Today being the 20th of November marks the World Children’s Day. This day has been set aside since 1954 and is now celebrated yearly worldwide. Its main aim is to promote international awareness and togetherness among children worldwide. It is celebrated on the 20th of November because it marks the day in 1959 when the declaration of the rights of the child were adopted by the UN. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN general assembly adopted the convention on the rights of the child. Although it is not celebrated on the same day worldwide, some countries like China, Czech Republic and Portugal celebrate it on June 1st.
World children’s day is used to highlight progress being made towards the realization and promotion of rights of children. Children worldwide now know their rights to education, shelter, protection against harm and good health care. Encouraging the welfare of children in the society is something that is strongly advocated for by the UN, this is because if the children’s welfare is adequately taken care of, the children will grow to be healthy adults in every aspect of their life. World Children’s day is also celebrated to honor children worldwide, this is to ensure that children are protected from working long hours in dangerous circumstances and allowing access to rightful education. Children especially those from Africa experience high rates of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, but through the human rights bill which was implemented by the UN, these cases have reduced over time. The universal children’s day provides a platform that promotes, advocates and celebrates children’s rights translating into dialogue and action that will build a better world for them.
The theme of this year’s World Children’s Day is “Kids Take Over”, and UNICEF is encouraging kids across the globe to take over grown up roles in different fields such as in media and even politics.
I strongly believe that the protection of children, provision of proper healthcare and education is key to ensuring that children grow to fulfill their dreams. The essence of celebrating children’s day is to show the community at large the importance of having healthy children, who are protected and educated as being very important for any society. In Kenya, there are organizations such as the CLAN (children’s legal action network) whose main objective is to provide free court assistance for children in conflict with the law and children who need legal protection and the enhancement of the rights of children through court representation advocacy and law reforms.
There are a lot of children who have been defiled and done to outrageous things but can’t be able to afford a lawyer, the CLAN organization therefore comes in handy by providing such services and ensuring justice is served. Another non-profit organization that shares the same mission with CLAN is the cradle children’s foundation. This foundation have done a great deal to help with ensuring that children’s rights are protected and advocated for adequately in Kenya, though there’s still much that needs to be done. Then there’s the SOS children’s village, an organization established in Kenya to help build families for children in need and help to shape them into better people.
My favorite organization that caters for the welfare of children , which should be celebrated on this day of World Children’s Day is Missing Child Kenya. They are so proactive in sharing information about missing children and following up to when the child is found, in case they are found. Re-uniting a lost and found child with their parents or guardian I believe is one of the most fulfilling acts one can ever do.
What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead. – Nelson Mandela
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