On Thursday the 20th November, it is the Universal Day of Children. On 14 December 1954, the General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children’s Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children (for details click here).
It recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The Assembly suggested to Governments that the Day be observed on the date and in the way which each country considers appropriate.
Rights of the Child
The 20th November marks the day on which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.
In 2000 world leaders outlined the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children. UNICEF notes that six of the eight goals relate directly to children and meeting the last two will also make critical improvements in their lives.
Child Arrangement Programme
Only last month The President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby told the press that ‘radical’ reform is necessary to address the effects of legal aid cuts. He said the new child arrangement programme, which came into effect in April, requires a new approach to private law cases.
BBC reported last week that in Greece disabled children who live in a state-run home are locked up in cages, because money is short. In 2008 images appeared of some children even being fed through the bars of their bed.
Children’s Rights Week
The University in Leiden (Holland) this week holds a Children’s Rights Week, hosted by Leiden University, the City of Leiden, UNICEF the Netherlands and the Dutch NGO Coalition on Children’s Rights.
UNICEF, World Food Programme, and Save the Children are all helping. Funding will give 500,000 children across 3,500 schools in India a healthier start in life by providing hand washing facilities and promoting group hand washing programmes. Further funding will provide school meals to 1 million children. Poor households must often choose between sending their children to school or to work the fields. A daily school meal provides a strong incentive to send children to school and keep them there. Save the Children’s funding will give clean and safe drinking water for up to 500,000 children in emergency response programmes.
Brighter future
Let’s start today. Help create a brighter future today and let’s look after the welfare of our children.
If you are separated and are going through a difficult time with your children, please feel free to contact James or Frank on 0845 6020422 or email: [email protected] in absolute confidence.
