World Children's Day

The United Nations General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day by resolution 836(IX) of 14 December 1954.The 20 November is observed to promoting the ideals and objectives of the UN Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The date 20 November marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

Statement by Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the General Assembly on World Children's Day 2020, November 20th;



World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day 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. Since 1990, World Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children's rights; World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.


  This World Children’s Day it is more important than ever that we re-commit to upholding the rights of children as the COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on them.School closures have disrupted the learning of more than 90% of students worldwide. For half of these children, distance learning is simply not an option as they do not have access to the internet at home. School is not just a place for learning and development, it is also the structure for universal immunization, and for 368 million children, it is where they receive their main source of daily nutrition.

Now that children are home, many – in particular girls – may never return to school as households are subjected to income shocks, which threaten to plunge their families into poverty.Home is not always the safest place for children either. Around the world, lockdowns have heightened the risk of children witnessing or suffering violence or abuse. A lack of face-to-face interaction and decreased physical activity has led to an increase in anxiety, depression and loneliness amongst children. For the most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, children living in conflict areas, slums, and camp settings, COVID-19 has made life even more difficult. Children are the future and we cannot give up on them at a time of crisis. To the contrary, we must prioritise the continuity of child-centred services with a focus on equity of access. We must ensure equality between girls and boys. We must bridge the digital divide. We must uphold the rights the General Assembly adopted more than three decades ago.


Our efforts today to recover better, will pave the way for a brighter future for every child, everywhere.

Thank you.

Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the General Assembly

It’s World Children’s Day!

A day to reimagine a better future for every child.


Our future depends on young people. As we face COVID-19, what will you do to reimagine a better world for every child?

FORUM: "Reimagine a better future for every child " World Children's Day 2020,

World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.This year, the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a child rights crisis. The costs of the pandemic for children are immediate and, if unaddressed, may last a lifetime. It’s time for generations to come together to reimagine the type of world we want to create.

What needs to happen?

UNICEF and partners are calling on governments to adopt a Six Point Plan to Protect our Children:

  1. Ensure all children learn, including by closing the digital divide.

  2. Guarantee access to health and nutrition services, and make vaccines affordable and available to every child.

  3. Support and protect the mental health of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence, and neglect in childhood.

  4. Increase access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene and address environmental degradation and climate change.

  5. Reverse the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.

  6. Redouble efforts to protect and support children and their families living through conflict, disaster and displacement.


Campaign: Together, we can reimagine a greener and more sustainable future, for every child.

Are you 13-24 years old and love drawing? Do you want to change the world? We’re looking for you! As World Children’s Day approaches, we invite you to draw your interpretation of the world you want to build after COVID-19 and submit your drawings through our Voices of Youth; jointhe #voicesofyouth illustration challenge!

On 20 November, kids will reimagine a better world. What will you do?

Check out some of the highlights | Learn about child rights | Take action.

Events

Kids take over: Children will ‘take over’ high-visibility roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment normally held by adults to shine a spotlight on issues that matter to them.

20 November 2020

Turn the world blue: Landmark buildings around the world will light up blue on the day to show support for child rights. Wear something blue, change your profile picture online and help raise awareness.

UNICEF REPORTS

Core Commitments for Children. Promoting predictable, effective and timely collective humanitarian action.

The State of the World's Children 2019: When you picture child malnutrition, what do you see? Find out why one in three children isn't growing well

Humanitarian Action for Children 2021 Overview: By working together, we can build a better future for every child living through conflict and crisis

How many children have internet access at home?

Estimating digital connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Water under fire volume 2: Strengthening sector capacity for a predictable, quality humanitarian response.



Economic and Social Council


Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)