CHILDREN'S DAY

 
Children's Day is an anniversary celebrated annually to honour children, whose date varies by country.


International Children's Day was first announced in Geneva during the World Conference of Child Welfare.  Even though, since then, Children's Day is celebrated worldwide by most of the countries in the world on June 1st, Universal Children's Day takes place annually on the 20th of November. 


First proclaimed by the UK 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to organise a day, firstly to boost mutual exchange and understanding among children, and secondly to introduce actions to benefit and encourage the welfare of children, worldwide.


In November 1959, the UN adopted the "announcement on the Right of the Child".  UNICEF is staunchly devoted to meeting the six of eight goals that supply to the needs of children so that they are all designated to fundamental rights, written in the 1989 international human rights treaty.  UNICEF delivers vaccines, works with policymakers for good health, corrects education and works entirely to help children protect their rights. 


In September 2012, the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon of the UN, led an initiative for the education of children.  He firstly wanted every child to be able to attend school, a goal reached by 2015.   Secondly to improve the skills set by these schools.  Finally implementing policies regarding education, to promote peace, respect and environmental concern. 


Universal Children's Day is not just a day to celebrate children for what they are but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have experienced violence in forms of abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Children are used as labourers in some countries, immersed in armed conflict, living on the streets, suffering due to difference of religion, minority issues or disabilities.  Children feeling the effects of war can be displaced and may suffer physical and psychological traumas.

 
The following violations are mentioned in the term "Children's armed conflict": enrollment and child soldiering, killing and kidnapping of children, attacks of schools and hospitals and prohibiting humanitarian access to children.  Currently, there are about 153 million children between the ages of  5 and 14 who are challenged with child labour.  The International Labour Organisation in 1999 adopted the prohibition and destruction of the worst forms of labour including slavery, child prostitution and child pornography.


It is heartbreaking to perceive what innocent children can suffer through the malicious behaviour of horribly immoral adults.   


In Greece, we celebrate Children's  Day on the 20th of November as it was created on 11.12.1946 when the UNICEF was formed.