Introduction:
World Children Day takes place annually on November 20th, which 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 day is celebrated to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. It is a reminder of children and adolescents who are most at risk and most in need to save their lives, to defend their rights, to keep them safe from harm, to give them a childhood in which they are protected, healthy and educated, and to give them a fair chance to fulfil their potential.
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.
Facts:
- World Health Organization (WHO) seeks to improve children health by helping countries to provide comprehensive and effective care, including mother's health during pregnancy, childbirth and caring for children until the age of 5.
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) states that every infant, and every child, has the right to good nutrition.
- About 40% of infants 0–6 months old are exclusively breastfed.
- Undernutrition causes 45% of child deaths.
- Vaccines prevent between 2 - 3 million deaths every year.
- About 116 million children worldwide receive basic vaccines every year, but 19.4 million children worldwide still missing out on basic vaccines.
- About 262 million children and youth are out of school.
- 650 million girls and women married before they turned 18.
- 5.4 million children under the age of 5 years died, mostly from preventable causes
- Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, hazardous chemicals, climate change, inadequate water and poor hygiene.
- Two thirds of children deaths can be prevented through cost-effective interventions and effective primary care.
- Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death among children under five.
- Bullying can have serious short term and long term effects on children.
Objectives:
- Providing an environment in which all children are enrolled in school, safe from harm and able to fulfil their potential and dreams.
- Boosting international cohesion and awareness among children around the world.
- Raising awareness of children's rights and improving their well-being.
Official Date:
Globally: November 20th, 2019.
Locally: Rabīʿ al-Awwal 23rd, 1441H.
Target Groups:
- Mothers and fathers.
- Teachers.
- Nurses and doctors.
- Government leaders and media professionals.
- Young people and children themselves.