DECEMBER 11: WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY
“Children reflect the kind of care they get” H. Jackson Brown, Jr., American writer
On December 11, the World Children’s Day is celebrated across the globe for the last 71 years. It is the day UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) was created by the UN General Assembly in 1946, headquartered in New York in view of protecting the rights of minors, as well as providing them long-term assistance and development programs.
As an intergovernmental organization active in 190 countries, with their basic revenues provided by state governments and individuals, it is appreciated by any country’s authorities. In fact, back in 1965 it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for protecting Third World children.
Nevertheless, millions of girls and boys are still facing inequalities daily, their rights are infringed, putting at risk their future, but also perpetuating a vicious circle of inferiority through generations. Millions of children die because of diseases that could have been prevented or are victims of conflicts, they might lack food, accommodation and clean water, they are exposed to violence, abuse or discriminations, they do not attend school and their voices are not heard!
Thus, on November 20, 1989, on the joint initiative of then-Polish government and UNICEF, the UN unanimously adopted to put into effect a year later the Convention on the Rights of the Child, based on the unquestionable need of every human person in the vulnerable age group under 18, to survive and to reach adulthood, fully achieving their potential, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, color, religion, age, disability, origin and social origin.
Its 54 articles were ratified by 193 states, except for the USA and Somalia which did not grant legal status - though signing it - while Greece ratified it on December 2, 1992 with Law 2101/92, evolving around three main clusters of rights:
-Protection (from any form of abuse, exploitation, discrimination, racism and so on)
-Provisions (right to education, health, welfare, entertainment and so on)
-Participation (right to freedom of expression, information, spare time and so on)
Thus, according to this first global, legally binding code, basic principles are laid upon for the rights to special care, protection and well-being of children throughout their development, clearly stating that:
-All children are basically entitled to be children, to have their needs covered with regard to food, water, house, parents, love, happiness, safety, care, health, peace, equality, play, education, equal treatment and to have their voices heard!
-All children have a right to life, survival and development
-Parents play the most significant role in raising children
-The family bears the responsibility to help their children in learning to exercise their rights and to ensure their protection
-Adults should do what’s best for their children. Their decisions should be shaped based on the consequences on them
-The state bears the responsibility to ensure and protect children’s rights. It should help any family to protect their children and to create an adequate environment to grow up and fully develop.
May these two days, dedicated to all children across the globe, be the beginning of a new chapter in their lives! So that we can look them in the eyes to find a soul that laughs, that is happy, that faces with innocence and carelessness their childhood!
May they also remind to “grown-ups”, to respect the children for their very nature: being children!
So that we all start living in a world more human, fair and peaceful. A world for today’s children to raise the children of their own tomorrow. And first and foremost, we should keep in our minds that children’s well-being today is inextricably linked to world peace tomorrow!
On December 11, the World Children’s Day is celebrated across the globe for the last 71 years. It is the day UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) was created by the UN General Assembly in 1946, headquartered in New York in view of protecting the rights of minors, as well as providing them long-term assistance and development programs.
As an intergovernmental organization active in 190 countries, with their basic revenues provided by state governments and individuals, it is appreciated by any country’s authorities. In fact, back in 1965 it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for protecting Third World children.
Nevertheless, millions of girls and boys are still facing inequalities daily, their rights are infringed, putting at risk their future, but also perpetuating a vicious circle of inferiority through generations. Millions of children die because of diseases that could have been prevented or are victims of conflicts, they might lack food, accommodation and clean water, they are exposed to violence, abuse or discriminations, they do not attend school and their voices are not heard!
Thus, on November 20, 1989, on the joint initiative of then-Polish government and UNICEF, the UN unanimously adopted to put into effect a year later the Convention on the Rights of the Child, based on the unquestionable need of every human person in the vulnerable age group under 18, to survive and to reach adulthood, fully achieving their potential, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, color, religion, age, disability, origin and social origin.
Its 54 articles were ratified by 193 states, except for the USA and Somalia which did not grant legal status - though signing it - while Greece ratified it on December 2, 1992 with Law 2101/92, evolving around three main clusters of rights:
-Protection (from any form of abuse, exploitation, discrimination, racism and so on)
-Provisions (right to education, health, welfare, entertainment and so on)
-Participation (right to freedom of expression, information, spare time and so on)
Thus, according to this first global, legally binding code, basic principles are laid upon for the rights to special care, protection and well-being of children throughout their development, clearly stating that:
-All children are basically entitled to be children, to have their needs covered with regard to food, water, house, parents, love, happiness, safety, care, health, peace, equality, play, education, equal treatment and to have their voices heard!
-All children have a right to life, survival and development
-Parents play the most significant role in raising children
-The family bears the responsibility to help their children in learning to exercise their rights and to ensure their protection
-Adults should do what’s best for their children. Their decisions should be shaped based on the consequences on them
-The state bears the responsibility to ensure and protect children’s rights. It should help any family to protect their children and to create an adequate environment to grow up and fully develop.
May these two days, dedicated to all children across the globe, be the beginning of a new chapter in their lives! So that we can look them in the eyes to find a soul that laughs, that is happy, that faces with innocence and carelessness their childhood!
May they also remind to “grown-ups”, to respect the children for their very nature: being children!
So that we all start living in a world more human, fair and peaceful. A world for today’s children to raise the children of their own tomorrow. And first and foremost, we should keep in our minds that children’s well-being today is inextricably linked to world peace tomorrow!
