//World Children’s Day – November 20
Congratulations for World Children's Day

World Children’s Day – November 20

Children are the future of humanity, so society and governments must seek to guarantee their rights. That is why the World Children’s Day is celebrated every November 20, so the opportunity to address this important issue is favorable.

World Children’s Day is celebrated every year on November 20. This is a day of great importance dedicated to all the children of the planet.

This day serves to celebrate all progress in children’s rights. However, it is a call for reflection because there is much work to be done for the welfare of vulnerable children throughout the world.

In addition, the purpose of World Children’s Day is to promote children’s rights. Likewise, raise awareness in society of the relevance of promoting day-to-day work for their well-being and development.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) carries out hard work to achieve real changes in the lives of children around the world.

The World Children’s Day is an ideal time to contribute to this worldwide call for children and the most fragile children.

November 20, 2019 marks three decades of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Being a source of encouragement to continue this noble work for the little ones …

World Children's Day International

Why is Universal Children’s Day celebrated on November 20?

The United Nations chose 20 November each year to celebrate Universal Children’s Day or, as it is also known, World Children’s Day. This date was chosen because it coincides with two dates fundamental to children’s rights. The dates that marked a before and after in the rights of children are the following:

November 20, 1959 – Declaration of the Rights of the Child

This date marked a milestone in history and took the first step towards achieving progress in children’s rights. On that date, the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It was the first step in laying the foundations for the system of protection for children around the world. However, this was not enough because it was mostly a political declaration that was not binding on the members of the organization.

It would take 30 years for the situation to change again. The rights of children, although recognized, would be left unprotected for a long time leaving it to the discretion of the states. After twenty years of sleep, the rights of children would be a hard negotiation would be achieved to achieve a political instrument with real power to change the situation.

20 November 1989 – Convention on the Rights of the Child

For 10 years, negotiations took place to generate a binding instrument for nation states. An instrument with the power to transform the reality of the world’s children. This process involved negotiations with religious leaders, civil organizations, institutions, political leaders and governments around the world. This text called the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted on 20 November 1989.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is binding on all countries that have signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is the ultimate instrument for achieving the well-being of millions of children around the world. However, it is the application of the instrument that will achieve their well-being.

A day to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Due to the signing of both instruments in favor of children, we commemorate this advance on November 20. Because both were a first step to ensure that children have access to these rights, but not the final one.

Later we will be able to see in more detail why we cannot claim victory with regard to children’s rights.

But in general, children’s rights are not respected in all countries. We can even see aberrant cases such as children used in wars, or children separated from their father at the U.S. border. In Afghanistan, for example, the Taliban restrict girls’ education. In many Latin American countries, children are not guaranteed the right to food or education. Many children in Latin America and Africa must drop out of school to work and help support their families. That is why more than a celebration it is the commemoration of the advances and a reminder of what we still must advance.

Children’s rights in figures

Notable progress has been made in the past 30 years in terms of children’s rights. Progress thanks to the global reduction of poverty and the recognition of these rights in some countries. However, many nations have serious problems coping with widespread poverty. In other cases, nations still do not recognize children as subjects of law but as the “property of their parents.” Unicef works to raise awareness among both children and adults. It is especially important to raise awareness among adults who possess responsibility and power to change the situation.

Below, we will present some figures on what remains to be achieved for a full childhood:

  • Mental Health: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents aged 15 to 19. It currently ranks 4th among adolescent deaths. Every year, almost 46,000 children between the ages of 10 and 19 take their own lives: that is, one child every 11 minutes.
  • Lack of future prospects: 1 in 5 young people aged between 15 and 24 indicated that they often felt depressed or had no intention of making plans.
  • 7 million school-age refugee children are out of school. This represents 50 per cent of refugee children.
  • 12 million girls are forced into marriage before the age of 18 annually.

As we can see, there is still a long way to go. Raising awareness is a fundamental step to transform the reality of children and give them effective access to them.

The goal of World Children’s Day

The main objective of this day is to remind society in general that children are the most sensitive group. In fact, they are the ones that most support the crises and problems of the world.

This world day brings a point that all children have the right to health, education and protection. This is a right that children should enjoy regardless of where they were born on the planet.

Dedicating an international day to children also serves to make a worldwide call on the inadequacies of children

On the other hand it is good to highlight the work of people who work every day so that children have an excellent future.

World Children's Day - November 20th
World Children’s Day – November 20th

UNICEF and children’s rights

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is the leading international organization responsible for protecting children’s rights.

In addition, to achieve real changes in the lives of millions of children. This prestigious institution has a history of 70 years in a great work for the rights of children.

UNICEF’s work is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was approved on November 20.  The approval of this convention is one of the reasons to celebrate World Children’s Day

On the other hand, this institution works hand in hand with the international community. Their actions are framed in the promotion and defense of children’s rights.

November 20 is an opportunity for everyone to know the rights of children.

Also to remember the importance of taking care to achieve the happiness of all the children of the planet

It is a great opportunity for society to get involved in activities to learn about the different ways to contribute to the most vulnerable children.

In addition that their rights are recognized and guarantee their well-being and development.

Progressing of Children's Rights Infographic
Progressing of Children’s Rights Infographic

The rights of the world’s children

The Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes a series of rights, among which we can mention the following:

  • Those concerning the right to life, health, and education
  • The right to play, to family life, to be protected from violence.
  • Not to be discriminated against and their opinions heard.

Despite the advances in children’s rights, the figures are a bit daunting since there are 385 million children living in extreme poverty.

In addition, 264 million are not in school and 5.6 million children under the age of five died last year due to preventable causes. This indicates that much work remains to be done.

It should be noted that in developed countries infants have better living conditions than developing countries.

The duty is to protect the children of the world despite the circumstances and place of the planet where they are.

For these reasons, World Children’s Day is also celebrated, because that day reminds us of what remains to be done.

Without a doubt it is an arduous task but it can be articulated better with governments …

I have the right - World Children's Day 2019 | ChildFund New Zealand

What rights of children are broken in the world?

The rights of children in the world should be fully fulfilled. However, in many countries this is a very different reality because these rights are broken. And the whole world does not advance at the same rate. World Children’s Day invites us to reflect on the world we want for children.

Next we mention the rights that are mostly infringed:

  • Right to health: Unfortunately, many children in the world suffer from diseases for which there are no medications. Hundreds of children die every day. In relation to the lack of food, they often have serious consequences of malnutrition.
  • Right to education: Millions of children across the globe cannot go to school or have never been able to go. It is very sad that they miss the opportunity to educate themselves and have a promising future. In Afghanistan, the struggle for the education of girls almost cost Malala Yousafzai his life.
  • Among other rights that are violated is the Right to decent housing: There are countries where children cannot enjoy a home. In effect, this leads to problems of growth, adaptation and security. There are even minors who are in danger of living on the street.
Children's Rights Infographic for World Children s Day
Children’s Rights Infographic for World Children s Day

World Children’s Day – An opportunity for reflection

Society, governments, non-governmental organizations, teachers and society in general should be involved in providing a grain of sand in the fulfillment of children’s rights.

This is a task that belongs to all of us since children are the present and the future of humanity. Therefore we must try to provide quality education, good food, recreation, safety.

World Children’s Day is not only to celebrate, it is an opportunity to discuss, reflect and fight. This day is the opportunity to boost what we as humanity owe to our children.

Parents have a great responsibility to meet their children in providing them with the right conditions to train them as good men and women.

Congratulations for World Children's Day
Congratulations for World Children’s Day

Sources:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-childrens-day

https://gustavomirabalcastro.online/derechos/20-de-noviembre-dia-universal-del-nino/

 

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