On 20 November, Universal Children’s Day is celebrated around the world along with the 17th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved in 1989. A day dedicated to all the boys and girls in the world.
A day of celebration for the progress achieved (of all the real changes in children’s lives), and a day to raise awareness of the situation of the most disadvantaged children, to learn about the rights of the child and make people aware of the importance of working on a daily basis for their well-being and development.
The United Nations celebrated Universal Children’s Day in honour of the approval of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, the most widely ratified international treaty in history.
The objective of Universal Children’s Day
The key idea is to remind the public that children are the most vulnerable group and therefore those who most suffer from the crises and other problems in the world. So, it is this World Day on which we are reminded that all children have a right to health, education and protection, regardless of where they were born in the world.
Dedicating an international day to children is also a way of making a global call regarding the needs of children and of acknowledging the efforts of those who work day after day so that children have a better future. 20 November is therefore a special occasion for everybody to learn about the rights of children and to remember the importance of working to achieve the well-being of all children, worldwide. It is a good day to find out about the various ways to work with the most vulnerable children, so that their rights are recognised and to also ensure their well-being and development.
Children’s rights should become a reality in all countries, including both developed and developing countries. The right to a healthy life, to a quality education and to be protected against all forms of abuse and violence.
Data. Conditions for children, worldwide
All children have the right to a fair chance in life. However, millions of children around the world are trapped in an intergenerational cycle of disadvantage that puts their futures and the future of their societies at risk.
- 385 million children around the world still live in extreme poverty. 1 out of every 4 children lives in extremely poor conditions, in families earning less than 1 euro per day.
- In 2014, about 160 million children were diagnosed as having stunted growth.
- More than 120 million school-age children, mostly girls, do not attend school.
- 6 million children under the age of five died last year due to preventable causes.
- 1 out of every 12 children dies before the age of 5.
- Every minute, a child dies from a disease linked to AIDS. There are currently 15 million children who have lost their parents to AIDS.
- 535 million children live in countries affected by emergency situations caused by armed conflict or natural disasters.
- 300,000 children are serving governments or rebel forces as soldiers.
- More than 1.8 million children, above all girls, are subjected to sexual exploitation.
- Unless we intensify our efforts, 69 million children will die before their fifth birthday by 2030, the majority in poor countries.
