Children Deserve More Than Survival: Reflections on World Children’s Day
As we welcome another World Children’s Day on 20th November, it is high time to ask ourselves the question: are we leaving them in a better world than what we inherited? Without a doubt, a child in Gaza or Sudan who falls asleep to the sound of explosions lives an incredibly different life from a child who grows up in a quiet, comfortable home. However, both children have the same right to safety, dignity, and hope. World Children’s Day reminds us of this truth and prompts us to promise ourselves that we will leave them a better world than the one we inherited
The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a “child” as a person under the age of 18, unless the relevant laws recognise an earlier age of majority. In 1954, the United Nations established Universal Children’s Day to promote understanding and enhance the welfare of children. The date of 20 November gained deeper significance in 1959 with the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This remains one of the most widely accepted human rights treaties in history. It lays out the basic rights every child deserves, no matter where they are born.
Yet these promises are far from reality. Across the world, children continue to face violence, exploitation, and injustice. UNICEF reports that more than 370 million girls and women experienced rape or sexual assault before they turned eighteen. When we include nonphysical forms of abuse, the number rises to 650 million. UN agencies also estimate that about 640 million girls and women alive today were married before the age of eighteen. These numbers show the depth of the crisis.
SRHR is often seen as an adult issue, but it begins in childhood. Children need protection from sexual violence. They need information that helps them understand their bodies. They need safe environments that allow them to speak up. Where these rights are denied, risks multiply. Child marriage pushes many young girls into early pregnancy. This increases the health complications and limits their future opportunities.
World Children’s Day should be one of joy. It should also be one of responsibility. We must protect children from harm and give them the tools to shape their own futures. A safer, more respectful world for children is the bedrock of a healthier future for all.
Sources:
- UNICEF’s website
- UNRWA’s website
- UN’s website