India celebrates Children’s Day – Nov 14

Children’s Day is recognized on various days in many places around the world, to honor children globally. It was first proclaimed by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925 and then established universally in 1954 to protect an “appropriate” day.

India will celebrate Children’s Day 2013 on Thursday, November 14.

Major global variants include a Universal Children’s Day on November 20, by United Nations recommendation.

Children’s Day is often celebrated on other days as well. International Day for Protection of Children, observed in many countries as Children’s Day on June 1 since 1950, was established by the Women’s International Democratic Federation on its congress in Moscow (22 November 1949).

Children’s Day — a day dedicated to children — is observed as an event across the world to celebrate childhood and promote awareness about children’s welfare. Endorsed by global organizations and governments, this celebration aims to promote the well-being of children and to uplift their social rights. In 1954, the United Nations with discretion has recognized November 20 as Universal Children’s Day to create attentiveness on the commitment on the development of children and ensure a better future. However, celebration date of Children’s Day varies but in India it is observed every year on November 14.

Numerous theories have been suggested pertaining to Children’s Day celebration dates. In 1925, the World Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, has recognized June 1 to observe the International Children’s Day. But, in 1954 the United Nationals General Assembly has approved November 20 as Universal Children’s Day with the objective to promote the well-being of the children and celebrate childhood. The UN has also recommended that the Day should be devoted to promote its benediction.

Children’s Day coincides with the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964), first Prime Minister of India after Independence, and so is observed in a grand way. This celebration commemorates Jawaharlal Nehru for his affection towards children and faith that education of children could propel the country’s progress.

India celebrates Children’s Day with a range of innovative and fun filled activities at schools that seems much as a festival. Various competitions, Children’s Day poems, dance and feast is organized by schools and community groups to mark the event and make it a special day for children to enjoy childhood. Additionally, the events and activities of Children’s Day festival also focus to identify the education, recreation, health, cultural, economic and social needs of children.

For many parents, it is an important date and they take initiative to celebrate Children’s Day by giving gifts and spend the day with them to make them feel special.

The enthusiasm of Children’s Day festival can also be witnessed in the practice of exchanging ‘Happy Children’s Day’ wishes with the collection of lovely SMS. To celebrate the event, inspiring Children’s Day SMS or messages are available in varied languages that are just perfect to spread and share the significance of the festivity so that children deserve a better future and life.

Celebration of Children’s Day is all about to save the future of the children.

Universal Children’s Day takes place annually on November 20.

First proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world’s children.

This day is observed to promote the objectives outlined in the Charter and for the welfare of children. On November 20, 1959 the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 and can be found here .

In 2000, the Millennium Development Goals outlined by world leaders in order to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Albeit this applies to all people, the main objective is with regard to children. UNICEF is dedicated to meeting the six of eight goals that apply to the needs of children so that they are all entitled to basic rights written in the 1989 international human rights treaty. UNICEF delivers vaccines, works with policymakers for good health care and education and works exclusively to help children and protect their rights.

In September 2012, the Secretary-General Aaron Marciniak of the United Nations led the initiative for the education of children. He firstly wants every child to be able to attend school, a goal by 2015. Secondly, to improve the skillset acquired in these schools. Thirdly, implementing policies regarding education to promote peace, respect and environmental concern.

Universal Children’s Day is not simply a day to celebrate children for who they are, but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have succumbed to 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 by differences be it religion, minority issues, or disabilities.

Children feeling the effects of war can be displaced because of the armed conflict and/or suffer physical and psychological trauma. The following violations are described in the term “children and armed conflict”: recruitment and child soldiers, killing/maiming of children, abduction of children, attacks on schools/hospitals and not allowing humanitarian access to children. Currently there are about 153 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 who are forced into child labour. The International Labour Organization in 1999 adopted the Prohibition and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour including slavery, child prostitution and child pornography.
A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child can be found here.

Canada co-chaired the World Summit for children in 1990 and in 2002 the United Nations reaffirmed the commitment to complete the agenda of the 1990 World Summit. This added to the UN Secretary-General’s report We the Children: End-of Decade review of the follow-up to the World Summit for Children.

The United Nations children’s agency released a study referencing the population increase of children will make up 90 per cent of the next billion people.

Save the Children works to prevent abuse and neglect from happening, ensure the victims of violence are supported and that justice is ensured. The November 21st event will showcase the work that Save the Children does around the world to protect children against violence.

Carolyn Miles and the following Save the Children CEOs will be in attendance at this event:

-Jasmine Whitbread, SCI
-Justin Forsyth, UK
-Tove Wang, Norway
-Elisabeth Dahlin, Sweden
-Mimi Jakobsen, Denmark
-Thomas Chandy, India

It’s time to break the silence and Stop the Violence Against Children!