Universal Children's Day: When, Why History And How to Observe

Because investing in our children is an investment in the future, the United Nations has declared November 20 to be Universal Children's Day each year. It's a moment to encourage global cooperation, raise awareness of the issues kids face everywhere, and enhance the welfare of all kids.


Universal Children's Day

When is The Universal Children's Day

Every year on November 20, the UN commemorates Universal Children's Day, which was first observed in 1954 and aims to foster global awareness and unity among children. This unique day, which also aims to improve children's welfare, is promoted and coordinated by UNICEF, and the United Nations Children's Fund.

 

History of The Universal Children Day

Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, the pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts, established Children's Day on the second Sunday of June in 1857. Leonard arranged a special service intended specifically for and in honor of the kids. Leonard gave the day the name Rose Day, though it was afterward called Flower Sunday and Children's Day.

 

The Republic of Turkey initially formally proclaimed April 23 as Children's Day in 1920, setting it as a national holiday. Since 1920, when the Turkish government and the newspapers of the day declared it a day for the children, Children's Day has been observed nationally. The founder and current president of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, made the official statement in front of the entire country in 1929 when it was deemed that an official confirmation was necessary to clarify and legitimize this celebration.

 

Although the UN established Universal Children's Day in 1954, the expanded Declaration of the Rights of the Child was not ratified by the UN General Assembly until November 20, 1959. The League of Nations first received this paper in 1924, and the UN later adopted it as its own declaration of children's rights.

 

The text in the original is as follows:

 

The child must be provided with the resources needed for normal physical and spiritual development.

 

The needy child must be nourished, the ill child must be cared for, the disadvantaged child must be assisted, the delinquent child must be reclaimed, and the orphan and the waif must be provided with shelter and sustenance.

 

When a youngster is in distress, relief must be given to them first.

 

The youngster must be given the opportunity to support themselves and must be shielded from all forms of exploitation.

 

The idea that one's talents should be used to benefit one's fellow humans must be instilled in children from an early age.

 

In the extended version, the UN endorsed 10 new principles along with a resolution that called on states to uphold these rights, work for their adoption, and make the document as widely known as possible. The resolution was submitted by the Afghani delegation.

 

The UN General Assembly ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989. A human rights pact known as the CRC outlines children's civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and health rights. The agreement deals with the needs and rights special to children, and all states who ratify it are obligated to do so by international law and are required to act in the child's best interests.

 

The United Nations Ban Ki-moon became the helm of the program for children's education in September 2012. First, by 2015, he wants every child to be able to go to school. Second, to enhance the skill set learned in these institutions. Lastly, putting policies into place about education to foster respect, peace, and environmental awareness.

 

The purpose of Universal Children's Day is to raise awareness of children who have endured violence in the form of abuse, exploitation, and prejudice as well as to celebrate children for who they are. In other nations, children are forced into labor, caught in violent combat, forced to live on the streets, and suffer from differences like disabilities, minorities, or religious intolerance. Currently, there are about 153 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 who are forced into child labor.

 

The Numbers Of Universal Children's Day

There are 264 million youngsters that do not attend school.

 

90% - The majority of children with disabilities do not attend school due to a number of obstacles, including stigma and ignorance as well as a lack of resources including infrastructure, supplies, and qualified teachers.

 

1 in 10 - Around the world, there are reportedly 1 billion persons with impairments, of whom at least 10% are children.

 

150 million youngsters worldwide are working as children while never having the chance to be children.

 

In impoverished nations, a full cycle of pre-primary through secondary education typically costs $1.25 per day per child.

 

Singapore ranked 989th out of 1000 countries in 2019 for the fewest children who are missing out on childhood, according to Save The Children, topping all other nations.

 

Niger came in last place overall in terms of the number of children missing out on childhood in 2019 with a score of 375.

 

43 - According to a Save The Children assessment from 2019, the United States significantly lagged behind practically all other developed nations in assisting children in realizing their full potential.

 

The number of children absents from school in Ethiopia as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is 26 million.

 

2.3 billion children globally, or 99%, are believed to reside in one of the 186 nations that have enacted COVID-19-related limitations.

 

Universal Children Day: How To Observe It

 

Find an event

Events that bring together kids and adults to raise awareness are sponsored by the UN every year. The world's most renowned authors united in 2016 to create a collection of incredibly brief stories that illustrate the issues the world's poorest children confront. You will have a lot of options to pick from because many UN affiliates also host their own activities.

 

West Some Time in The Community

You can organize a gathering to encourage adults to interact meaningfully with neighborhood children. This might be as straightforward as having a meeting in a nearby park or it could be a more elaborate party that the neighborhood council plans. In either case, the goal is to convey to the kids the value of forging ties with the neighborhood.

 

Sponsor a Child

It is now simpler than ever to donate money or even sponsor a child for a set monthly fee through UNICEF and other organizations. A little bit of money can make a big difference in a child's life. Make today the day to sponsor a child or make a donation to a foreign charity, if you've ever considered doing so.

 

Importance Of Universal Children's Day

 

Guarantees Rights to Children

The rights granted to people are typically regarded to be for adults in official documents. Governments all across the world have, nevertheless, ratified treaties because of the UN that ensure children have the right to life, health, education, play, family, and protection from violence, discrimination, and repression.

 

They are The Future

Change requires time. Generations are what we mean by time. The future of our planet must be secure, safe, and sustainable, and it must begin with the children of today. Early education is crucial because of this, and the UN is leading the charge in this area.

 

Raises Awareness

If you don't notice the issues affecting children in today's world in your daily life, it could be simple to ignore them. The purpose of Universal Children's Day is to raise awareness of the fact that millions of children worldwide lack access to opportunity, healthcare, and education.

 

Final Word

As you can see, there’s a lot going on regarding this special day. But, the most important thing that came across from this blog is that it shouldn’t be about celebrating the failure of a clock. Instead, it should be an opportunity to reflect on how far society has come and how much more we have left to achieve.

This year while wishing your loved ones Happy Birthday, do keep in mind their needs and build their dreams with new ones. Children's-day-when-why HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY As per our research, Universal Children's Day was first celebrated in 2002 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MOSJE), Government of India. It was then celebrated all over the world as partBlogNote The details mentioned are for reference purposes only. They may change without prior notice. END


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