Universal Children’s Day 2023: Investing in our children is equivalent to investing in our future; thus, Universal Children’s Day is observed annually on November 20. It is an occasion to foster global unity, raise awareness regarding the challenges that children worldwide encounter, and advocate for the betterment of all children’s welfare.
Universal Children’s Day 2023: History
Children’s Day was established by Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, rector of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on the second Sunday of June 1857. A special service was conducted by Leonard in honor of and for the children. The day was originally designated as Rose Day by Leonard, but was subsequently renamed Flower Sunday and Children’s Day.
Children’s Day was initially designated as a national holiday by the Turkish Republic in 1920, with April 23 as the designated date. Children’s Day was officially declared a national holiday by the Turkish government and publications in 1920. It was intended to be a day dedicated to children. Nevertheless, it was determined that in order to provide clarity and legitimacy to this commemoration, an official declaration was required. In 1929, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and current President of the Republic of Turkey, issued the official declaration on a national level.
Although the United Nations instituted Universal Children’s Day in 1954, the UN General Assembly did not adopt an expanded version of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child until November 20, 1959. The United Nations embraced this document, which it had originally obtained in 1924 from the League of Nations, as its own declaration of children’s rights.
The textual excerpt is as follows:
- It is imperative to provide the infant with the necessary resources to facilitate its typical growth, encompassing both material and spiritual aspects.
- The delinquent child must be reclaimed, the hungry must be nourished, the ill must be attended to, the child with developmental delays assisted, and the orphan and the destitute housed and cared for.
- Priority must be given to providing relief to the infant during moments of distress.
- It is imperative to establish a means for the child to generate income and safeguard them against any type of exploitation.
- The infant ought to be nurtured with the understanding that his or her abilities should be utilized in the betterment of others.
The United Nations adopted ten supplementary principles and a resolution in support of the expanded version, which was proposed by the Afghan delegation. The resolution urged governments to acknowledge these rights, work towards their acceptance, and disseminate the document to a broad audience.
The United Nations General Assembly ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989. The CRC delineates the civil, political, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of minors as a human rights treaty. Regarding child-specific rights and requirements, the document stipulates that all ratifying nations are legally obligated to abide by its provisions and must act in the child’s best interest.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presided over the initiative for the education of children in September 2012. His initial objective was for all children to have the opportunity to attend education by 2015. Second, to enhance the repertoire of abilities gained at these institutions. Finally, the implementation of educational policies that foster environmental consciousness, respect, and harmony.
Universal Children’s Day serves as a platform to not only commemorate the unique qualities of children but also to raise awareness regarding the plight of children worldwide who have been subjected to abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. In some nations, children are forced to work as laborers, are entangled in armed conflict, are compelled to live on the streets, or endure hardships due to religious affiliations, minority status, or disabilities. At the present time, an estimated 153 million children aged 5 to 14 are compelled to perform child labor.
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Importance Of The Day
Protects the liberties of children
It is generally accepted that the rights attributed to individuals are intended for adults in standard government documents. However, governments worldwide have ratified treaties that ensure children’s rights to life, health, education, play, family, protection from violence, discrimination, and suppression, due to the United Nations.
They represent the future.
Transitions require patience. And by time, generations are intended. Preserving the planet for a secure, sustainable, and stable future requires an emphasis on the younger generation. Early education is therefore crucial, and the United Nations is at the forefront of this effort.
Heightens awareness
If they do not manifest themselves in your daily life, the issues that children face today might be simple to disregard. The purpose of Universal Children’s Day is to raise awareness regarding the fact that millions of children worldwide lack access to opportunities, healthcare, and education.
Universal Children’s Day 2023: Date
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | November 20 | Monday |
| 2024 | November 20 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | November 20 | Thursday |
| 2026 | November 20 | Friday |
| 2027 | November 20 | Saturday |
