(VNF) - “Provide opportunities for girls to raise their voice in deciding some related social matters, help them to express themselves and gain a certain position in the society,” said Khanh Linh, one of the Vietnamese representative at the second day of the ninth World Urban Forum (WUF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Khanh Linh, 17, delivers her speech at the WUF9 on February 9^th. (Photo: Plan International Vietnam)

Her concerns about safety issues at public spaces as well as her wishes to make changes have been acknowledged by more than 50 delegates from international organisations and levels of Government in order to create “safe, smart and inclusive cities for all.”

The WUF is a non-legislative technical forum convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (U.N.-Habitat) held since 2002.

The Forum gathers a wide range of experts from every walk of life. Participants of the Forum include, but are not limited to, national, regional and local governments, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, professionals, research institutions and academies, professionals, private sector, development finance institutions, foundations, media and United Nations organizations and other international agencies.

The Forum is recognised as the foremost global arena for interaction among policymakers, local government leaders, non-governmental organisations and expert practitioners in the field of sustainable urban development and human settlements.

The theme of the Ninth session of the Forum “Cities 2030, Cities for All: Implementing the New Urban Agenda” – places the Forum’s focus on the New Urban Agenda as a tool and accelerator for achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. It is the first major conference following the 2016 adoption of the New Urban Agenda at Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador.

Ngoc Lan and Khanh Linh at the WUF. (Photo: Plan International Vietnam)

Ngoc Lan and Khanh Linh are two excellent girls who have been chosen as representatives for “Safer Cities for Girls” project at the WUF where they has the chance to share about their initiatives dedicating to develop a safer cities for girls and youth around the world.

“I don’t know if it was a dream or reality” said Lan after knowing that she has been chosen to participate in the Forum.

Linh also excitedly shared about her expectations before the journey, “I hope I will be able to improve my English in this journey and learn a lot of useful knowledge to share with my friends when coming back home.”

VNF