The CPI Director, Dr. Gamal M. Hamid, was invited as a resource person, to make a presentation at the international Child Friendly Cities Conference that was held in Chandigarh, India during 13th February 2008. The Conference was organized by Panjab University and the University College of the Fraser Valley, Canada, on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Panjab University.
The Conference was inaugurated by Prof. R.C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, and the Guest of Honor for the last session was Mr. S.P.S. Dhindsa, Minister of Public Works, Government of Punjab.
Dr. Eliana Riggio, consultant for the MENA CFC program, delivered the presidential keynote address on the principles and international thinking about CFC, and Dr. Sudeshna Chatterjee, who is also a consultant for the MENA CFC program, presented an exploration on the friendliness of urban spaces from the vantage point of children. Dr. Hamid made a presentation on the attempts to launch a CFC in MENA and the experience of AUDI/CPI in assisting pilot cities in the region in this respect. Cherie Enns, professor of geography at UCFV also made a presentation on how cities may become friendly to their children.