United Nations Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Convention, which is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, sets out a number of children’s rights including the right to life, to health, to education and to play, as well as the right to family life, to be protected from violence, to not be discriminated, and to have their views heard. ‘Rights’ are entitlements every child should have. All children have the same rights. These rights are listed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and almost every country has agreed to respect them in practice. All the rights are connected, and all are equally important — they cannot be taken away from children. The Convention is guided by four general principles: non-discrimination (Article 2), the best interests of the child (Article 3), the right to life, survival and development (Article 6), and the right to be heard and taken seriously (Article 12).
Highlights of the Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Article 2: All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what their religion or culture is, whether they are a boy or girl, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis.
Article 3: All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children.
Article 6: Every child has the right to life, survival and development.
Article 13: Children have the right to find out things and share what they think with others, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way, unless it harms other people.
Article 19: Governments must make sure children are properly cared for and protect them from violence, abuse and neglect by anyone who looks after them.
Article 23: Children have the right to special education and care if they have a disability, as well as to all the rights in this Convention, so that they can live a full life.
Article 24: Children have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay well.
Article 27: Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live, and to have their basic physical and mental needs met. Governments should help families and children who cannot afford this.
Article 28: Children have the right to an education. Discipline in schools should respect children’s dignity. Primary education should be free. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible.
Article 31: Children have the right to play, rest and relax and to take part in cultural and artistic activities.
Article 32: Children have the right to protection from work that harms them, and is bad for their health and education. If they work, they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.
Article 34: Children have the right to be free from sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.
Article 39: Children have the right to help if they have been hurt, neglected or badly treated so they can get back their health and dignity.
Article 42: Children have the right to know their rights. Adults should know about these rights and help children learn about them.
SD/20/11/17
Tuesday November 21, 2017.
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