20th November 2015 each year is Universal Children’s Day!

Image ©ImagesBuddy.com

Image ©ImagesBuddy.com

Here’s what it is why it’s important…


On the 14th December 1954 the 512th plenary meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations passed a resolution. Number 836(IX).

Image © U.N.

Image © U.N.


The resolution recommended that all countries establish a Universal Children’s Day.
The purpose of the day was to encourage the observation one day each year as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children.
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It was recommended that the day be one of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the U.N. Charter and the welfare of the children of the world.

Why it’s important…

In this respect the establishing of Universal Children’s Day was very much a forerunner of what occurred 5 years later on the 20th November 1959 – the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
Now, the 20th November is celebrating worldwide as Universal Children’s Day!
[callout]”The one thing all children have in common is their rights. Every child has the right to survive and thrive, to be educated, to be free from violence and abuse, to participate and to be heard.”  U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon[/callout]
The observation of this day each year is important for one over-arching reason: children’s rights have come a very long way, but there is still lots to be done!

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto/LisaValder

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto/LisaValder


Raising awareness of the global issues that effect children – like the still woefully poor mortality rates in some parts of the world – is important.
But increasing the participation and hearing the voices of children in the U.K. is crucial too. Particularly for those troubled kids who find themselves in the care and youth justice systems or recovering from trauma and abuse.
Lobbying of the British Government to make social policy changes that both respect and promote the rights of such marginalised children is critical too.

Joining in…

There will be all kinds of events, activities and celebrations held today. You can follow developments on the Universal Children’s Day Facebook page or check out the hashtag #ChildrensDay on Twitter.
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For those working with troubled children and young people there are a few questions we can ask ourselves this week:

  • How aware am I of children’s rights and the implications for my own practice?
    Image ©UNICEF

    Image ©UNICEF

  • Do the children and young people I work with or care for have a voice in what happens to them?
  • Is there more I could do to promote the rights of children in my  my agency?
  • What small change/s could I make to my practice – this week – to help further the rights of children?

Big goals are achieved one step at a time…
[shareable cite=”Jonny Matthew”]Children’s rights have come a very long way, but there is still lots to be done! #ChildrensDay[/shareable]

Final word…

The lesson from all this is that we have come a long long way in embedding, promoting and respecting children’s rights.  We also need to commit to continuing the journey of change into uncharted waters.
Universal Children’s Day is about both.
[callout]”As we all consider the kind of future society we want for our children we need to remember the rights we have signed up to and the duty we hold as adults. We also need to remember what children tell us.” Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, 15 Oct. 2015[/callout]

What do you think?…

  • How are we doing on furthering children’s rights? What policy changes do you think the British government should work on first?
  • Please let me know your thoughts…   Leave a comment below or click here.

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Image ©United Nations

Image ©United Nations

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© Jonny Matthew 2015

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