Student monitors to review rights violations and propose policy improvements

Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung [Eunpyeong-gu]
Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung [Eunpyeong-gu]

Seoul's Eunpyeong-gu is recruiting 20 elementary school students for its "2026 6th Children's Rights Monitor Group" through June 30, the district announced Tuesday.

The Children's Rights Monitor Group is part of the district's child-friendly city initiative and has been run in partnership with Good Neighbors' Seoul Central Branch since 2021 to incorporate children's views into local governance.

Eunpyeong-gu has been working to advance children's rights — last year earning upper-tier certification as a child-friendly city from the Korean Committee for UNICEF. The district has pursued 64 detailed child-friendly city projects reflecting children's four core rights: the right to survival, protection, development and participation.

Appointed members will review cases of children's rights violations and propose policy improvements across five areas: play and culture, participation and respect, safety and protection, nutrition (dietary habits and food safety), and health and welfare.

Applications are open to children who live in Eunpyeong-gu or attend an elementary school in the district, with 20 spots available. Selected members will join a children's rights camp from Aug. 4 to 7, then spend the second half of the year proposing recommendations on children's policy.

The district plans to share members' activities and proposals at a December showcase and will present commendations to outstanding participants.

"The Children's Rights Monitor Group is a representative children's participation body through which children directly engage in the policy process as members of the community," Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said. "We will continue to expand opportunities for children to participate so that their voices can translate into real policy."


ikson@heraldcorp.com