The Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), the MENA Child Protection Iniutiative ( CPI),  and  Khartoum State Ministry of Pysical Planning & Public Works have co-organized a workshop entitled" Towards Developing Urban Areas suited for all Children and Young people",  held during 5th to 8th November,  2006 ,  in Khartoum .  The workshop aimed to highlight the principles relating to the planning and creation of  more convenient urban  areas for all children,  including children with special needs,  such as those enabling their access to various buildings,  sectors and  and city services,  in the framework of universal and sustainable development.

The workshop attended by participants 65 participants from Khartoum   State and various provinces of the Sudan,  in addition to participants from Jordan,  Egypt,  Oman,  and Syria.  The scientific subjects of the workshop were presented by professor Tjeerd Deelstra,  Director,  the International Institute for Urban Development ( the IIUE,  of the Netherlands),  Consultant Engineer Mukhtar Al Shaibani,  Chair,  ICTA for the  MENA Region,  and Dr Joseph Kwan,  Expert,  Universal Design and Accessibility,  Director,  UDA Consultants Ltd.,  Hong Kong.

The workshp was inaugurated by His Excellency Engineer Abdelwahab Momahhed Osman,  Minister of Urban Planning & Public Sectors,  who was representing His Excellency the Governor of Khartoum Municipality by proxy, Her  Excellency  Dr Samia Habbani,  State Minister For Social Affairs,  as well as a number of ministers,  policy makers,  representatives of the Supreme Committee,  members of the Legislative Council,  university lecturers,  experts,  as well as  interested participants.

Participation in the workshop has included theoretical interventions,  field visits,  design guidelines for the development of urban areas already under construction in some sectors,  avenues, and localities in Khartoum State.  The  closing session of the workshop made the following recommendations to is Excellency the Governor of Khartoum State Municipality,  as well as to the Government of Khartoum State :

1 -  Work towards creating a more suited urban environment in Khartoum State for the benefit of all children and youth,  with the aim to enhance security in urban areas and streets to everybody’s advantage,   by means  of providing   safer walking   and cycling passages,  and a more attractive  urban environment with more open spaces,  playgrounds,  and recreation  areas.

2 -  The necessity of underlining,  in planning legislations and building bye-laws,  the  accessibility of handicapped children to all locations,  buildings,  and public sectors,  as well as public transportation services,  with the aim to facilitate their mobility in public spaces;  adopt adequate design criteria;  outline the requirements for the implementation of relating  legislations;  propose a  short term agenda for a more accessible urban enviornment  in  Khartoum State.

3 -  Activate all required planning legislations and implement them in all new buildings and public sectors currently under construction ;  rehabilitate all existing buildings and publlic sectors,  each year,  with the aim to enhance  their accessibility  .

4 -  Launch a campaign of consciousness raising  to the advantage of the  inhabitants of Khartoum State,  on their rights and the requirements of people with specific needs.

5 -  Activate the role of the National Council for the protection and rehabilitation of handicapped people;  activate the Municipal Council;  and increase the number of representatives of the Ministry of Pysical Planning & Public Works,  particularly with reference to public sectors.

6 -  Launch educational programmes at all educational levels,  including higher education   and ongoing educational programmes focusing on the rights and needs of handicapped people ( specific educational programmes) and   organise training sessions for engineers and designers.

7 -  Devise public spaces in living  urban areas in ways to make them  more accessible to children and families,  and create recreational  urban  centres in  various parts of Khartoum State,   especially public parcs and zoos.

8 -  Devise an annual prize for urban sectors that undertake the creation and rehabilitation of public sectors such as parcs and open  spaces,  or improve the urban environment in ways that enhance their accessibility to all children and youth,  including those with special needs.

In conclusion,  the participants conveyed their consideration and thanks to His Excellency the Governor of Khartoum State,  His Excellency the Minister of Physical Planning & Public Works,  and her Excellency the Minister of Social Affaiors for hosting this workshop and for the interest they have all invested in its success.  The participants also conveyed their hope to see the recommendations of the present workshop adopted and implemented.  They also look  foreward  to  the creation of a more suitable urban environment to the advantage of all children and youth  in  the Sudan,  and hope to see the same under takings in  other arab states.