World Children’s Day is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote children’s rights and shine a spotlight on child welfare across the globe.
The international awareness day was first established by the United Nations (UN) in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day.
It is now celebrated on 20th November each year as that is the date when, in 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the Convention on the Rights of the Child was founded.
Ever since, World Children’s Day has stood as a reminder to support, advocate for and celebrate the rights of children worldwide.
World Children’s Day a reminder to listen to children
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, says that, in 2024, World Children’s Day is “also a moment to recognise the enormous challenges children face in our deeply divided, tumultuous and often violent world.”
Indeed, the theme for this year is “For every child, every right,” which calls for action to protect the fundamental rights of all children.
Guterres’ official message for World Children’s Day continues:
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care.
“It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty, or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children.
“[…] This year’s theme reminds us that we must listen to children as they fight for their rights — and for humanity’s future.
“The recently adopted Pact for the Future includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. All three texts contained strong commitments to protect and support children, invest in their rights, and expand opportunities to actively participate in the decisions affecting them.
“Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety.
“Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
Get involved in World Children’s Day
World Children’s Day is seen as a positive movement, which the UN says is designed to “promote international togetherness,” raise awareness among children and improve their welfare across the globe.
Parents, carers, teachers, healthcare workers, government leaders and business heads are encouraged to join children and young people in getting involved in World Children’s Day and making it relevant for their “societies, communities and nations.”
UNICEF provides a range of ways in which young people, parents, teachers, business leaders and government can take part in World Children’s Day, including helpful toolkits and free resources to download.
They also encourage people, including children and young people, to educate themselves on child rights. They provide child-friendly explanations, specific resources for parents and teachers and even a video which explains child rights to children aged 3 to 6.
Children are ‘calling out for peace’
UNICEF have made World Children’s Day their global day of action for children, by children.
The UN agency for children urges everyone to listen to children in order to “listen to the future” and create a better world.
Their message for 2024 could not be clearer:
“Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places today children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded or even denied and attacked.
“Upholding children’s rights is the compass to a better world – today, tomorrow and into the future.
“This World Children’s Day, join us and listen to the future.
“By listening to children we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today.”
To this end, UNICEF has published children’s letters to adults, which “are calling out for peace, for safe and healthy environments, for love and care.”
Children’s rights to be respected on World Children’s Day and everyday
Save the Children also join the UN in celebrating World Children’s Day.
The Declaration on the Rights of the Child was originally drafted by Eglantyne Jebb, who founded Save the Children in 1919. She strongly believed that children had a right to food, health care, education and protection from exploitation before this was a mainstream idea. This year marks a century since her declaration was adopted by the League of Nations in 1924.
In 2020, Save the Children published their Protect a Generation report, which surveyed children and examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their lives.
In it, children “made articulate and clear demands of their leaders” to protect and deliver on their fundamental rights. They sought action on education, healthcare and social protections.
The leading global children’s charity says:
“It is often forgotten that listening to what children have to say in an emergency is not just ‘a nice thing to do’, it is a humanitarian obligation. On Universal Children’s Day—and every day—children’s rights need to be respected, protected and fulfilled.”
Protecting the health, safety and welfare of children
First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider delivering a wide and diverse range of training courses.
They can provide training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food safety, safeguarding, mental health, health and social care and other specialist subjects.
FRT work with hundreds of early years services, schools and other childcare and support groups across the UK, providing them with high quality training to meet EYFS and Ofsted guidelines.
Their training courses for early years include Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding Children and Youth Mental Health First Aid. They also deliver courses in topics such as Understanding Mental Health and Anxiety Awareness.
A trainer from FRT says:
“We know that children are the future of our world. So it is incredibly important that they are protected, respected, listened to and supported to develop and thrive.
“Anyone who works with children and young people has a duty to protect their health, safety and welfare and ensure they are supported to grow up happy and healthy. There is a range of training available to ensure people have the correct skills and knowledge to help them do this.”
For more information about the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.