Guide to creating urban public spaces for children

Developed by UN‑Habitat, UNICEF, and World Health Organization, this guide supports the creation of safe, inclusive, and high-quality public spaces that meet children’s needs and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. It is grounded in children’s right to play (Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) and shows how child-centred public spaces can accelerate progress toward SDG 11.7—universal access to safe, accessible public spaces by 2030.

Set against rapid urbanization, motorization, and the privatization of public land, the guidance responds to shrinking access to play—especially in low- and middle-income countries and among children living in informal settlements and crisis contexts. It highlights the growing urgency of action amid widening inequalities, rising living costs, and increasing childhood obesity, and provides practical entry points for policy, planning, and investment.

The guide is intended for governments, practitioners, communities, schools, civil society, and private-sector actors, and is informed by global evidence, consultations with children, expert input and real-world city examples.

Read the report here

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