Speaking last week at the launch of his Children and Young People's Strategy, entitled Towards a Child-friendly London, the major of London said, 'The aim of the strategy is to ensure a greater voice for London's children and young people so we can address the issues that concern them, including tackling child poverty and promoting inclusion and equality for all.
'London is home to 1.62m children under the age of 18 - more than one fifth of the total population of the city. But they do not have a vote and have little say in how things are run.'
Key proposals include creating cleaner and safer parks and play areas, more activities for children, road safety measures, pressure on the Government to impose a moratorium on the sale or reallocation of play areas and school playing fields, and a forum to monitor child commercial sexual exploitation.
The strategy follows the launch last month of the mayor's proposals to enhance childcare provision, 'to make an appreciable difference to the availability and affordability of daycare in London'.
Deputy mayor Nicky Gavron said she had secured the principle and funding for 'a fully-staffed Children and Young People's Unit at City Hall to ensure that children and young people's best interests and voices are put at the heart of policy making at the Greater London Authority and in the capital'.