The 70th edition of ‘World Children’s Day’ is being celebrated today all over the world. It was established in 1954, which is celebrated every year on 20th November with the aim of promoting international solidarity, bringing awareness among children across the world and bringing about changes in the economic condition and welfare of children. This day focuses on protecting the rights of children, providing them a safe environment and paying attention to their education and health. In recent times, this special day also works to wake us all from our deep sleep to combat the problems like increasing atrocities on children, child labour, and lack of education. Spreading awareness in the field of child protection is not the responsibility of any one country, it is the responsibility of everyone. Therefore, this problem can be stopped only through collective efforts.
The theme of World Children’s Day-2024 is “For Every Child, Every Right” which calls for efforts to ensure that all children around the world receive their fundamental rights, including education, food, shelter, sanitation and freedom from harmful work. Get the right to security from. Countries like Afghanistan have lagged behind in early childhood education. The situation is worrying even in remote areas of India. Everyone should be determined today to ensure that no child is deprived of the right to education. In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on 14th November which ended last week. In India, this day is celebrated on the occasion of the birthday of former Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Even then all Indians are made aware to protect child rights. While there are concerns about children all over the world, there should be concerns, because the situation is similar in all countries.
Also read: World Children’s Day 2024: A new childhood free from exploitation and crime should emerge in India.
Where does the world campaign in defense of child rights stand today? How much progress has been made in the ‘World Child Rights Protector Campaign’ and where are the shortcomings? The world needs to collectively review all these facts. Because keeping a campaign running continuously for 70 years is a big thing in itself. The year 1959 was first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Then on 20 November itself, the anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Rights of the Child occurred. After that it was decided to celebrate today as Children’s Day. Many international organizations in the field of child welfare, including world renowned units like UNICEF, are working for the rights of children. Currently, 198 countries are associated with UNICEF keeping in mind that the complete rights of the children should be protected and they should get their rights easily. UNICEF’s work towards child protection is commendable.
World Children’s Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world in which people give a lot of affection, gifts and pampering to children. Because children are the future of tomorrow and are also the heritage of their respective countries. But, unfortunately, the childhood of children is currently surrounded by not just one but many different types of problems. The whole world is hurt by stigmas like child labor and child trafficking. Is there no country where thousands of children do not go missing every day? According to UNICEF, more than 5 lakh children go missing in the world every year. The figures of India are even more scary, where about 96,000 children go missing every year. India is making every effort to find missing children and stop this problem. Today’s special day is celebrated keeping in mind that this problem should not only stop in India but the entire world should also come out of this clutches. However, success has been achieved due to the honest steps taken in this direction. But, did you not get as much as you should have? No country has yet been able to reach the set target.
‘Child trafficking’ has now become a global problem all over the world. Therefore, today compels all of us to take a pledge to improve the lives of children around the world. Advocating reforms for the young and protecting their rights, also inspires them to help and do charity. Raises awareness of children’s rights to freedom from discrimination, right to family life and protection from violence. Although the world has made good progress in upholding children’s rights in the last few years, many challenges still remain. These challenges include violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination, poverty, conflict and lack of access to essential services. The world will have to fight and defeat these problems together.
– Dr. Ramesh Thakur
Member, National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), Government of India!
