Universal Children's Day

Universal Children's Day takes place annually on November 20. First proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children.

Nearly 25 years ago, the world made a promise to children: that we would do everything in our power to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential. In spite of the overall gains, there are many children who have fallen even further behind. Old challenges have combined with new problems to deprive many children of their rights and the benefits of development.

To meet these challenges, and to reach those children who are hardest to reach, we need new ways of thinking and new ways of doing - for adults and children.

During the 25 years since the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted, the world has taken action in every region and virtually every nation on earth.

 The mandate has produced significant results, helping to save and transform the lives of millions of children. Yet we cannot claim that children’s rights are being upheld when 17,000 children under the age of 5 die every day largely from preventable causes, when girls are kept home while their brothers go to school, or where mothers living in a remote community cannot access a simple vaccination for their children. 

We have a responsibility to find new ways of tackling the challenges not yet overcome, to reach the children not yet reached and to put equity and children’s rights at the center of an agenda for action for all children.

Happy Universal Children's Day! :*

CREDITS:

http://www.un.org/en/events/childrenday/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Day

http://www.hrea.org/index.php?doc_id=919

Images: www.takedacanada.com, www.monthsofediblecelebrations.com