. Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places today children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded or even denied and attacked. By
and include their priorities in our actions today.
is the compass to a better world – today, tomorrow and into the future.
, and children are leading the way. By championing their right to be heard, we can better
. If you are ready to follow their lead, join the conversations with the hashtags:
.
Landmark buildings around the world will light up blue on the day to show support for child rights. Wear something blue, change your profile picture online and help raise awareness.
Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Children’s Day 2024; November 20th.On World Children’s Day, we celebrate the youngest members of our human family.
But today is also a moment to recognize the enormous challenges children face in our deeply divided, tumultuous and often violent world.
It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care.
It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty, or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children.
One hundred years ago, the League of Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child — the foundation of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.
This year’s theme reminds us that we must listen to children as they fight for their rights — and for humanity’s future.
The recently adopted Pact for the Future includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. All three texts contained strong commitments to protect and support children, invest in their rights, and expand opportunities to actively participate in the decisions affecting them.
Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety.
Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.
António Guterres.
PODCASTS: Teens and their parents talk about the future.
Take action!This World Children’s Day, join us and listen to the future. Discover what’s happening and
take part of activitiesExplore ways you can join us this World Childrens Day:Young people:
Join the U-Report communityParents:
Help nurture children’s voicesTeachers:
Access resources on child rightsBusiness:
Become a partner and host a kids’ takeoverGovernment:
Take action for child rightsLearn about child rights.
Do all children have rights? Are children’s rights the same as human rights? Learning about child rights is the first step in becoming a child rights defender.Read the
child-friendly version of The Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Explore
resources for parents and teachers on child rights.
Watch
“We All Have Rights” a video explaining child rights to children aged 3 to 6.
Find answers to
the most frequently asked questions about UNICEFStart a conversation.
Ask children about their ideas, priorities and dreams for the future. To help hold supportive conversations, check out articles from our Parenting Hub:
Talking to your child about climate changeHow to talk to your child about conflict and warTalking to your kids about racism 10 ways to create healthy digital habits at home 11 tips for communicating with your teenHow to communicate effectively with your young children
World Children’s Day (WCD), marked on November 20th is UNICEF’s global day for children, by
children. It marks the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and serves
as a call to action for schools, communities, institutions, sports and businesses to engage with
children and support their rights.
Why Engagement from the Private Sector is Key on World Children’s Day?
- Businesses have the power and influence to make a positive impact through advocating for
children’s rights.
- Corporations can support children’s futures through sustainable business practices,
corporate social responsibility (CSR) at the workplace.
- By listening to children’s ideas about the future and embedding children’s rights into their
strategies, businesses can help address today’s global challenges while engaging their
employees, customers and fans around topics that resonate with children and society.
How Today’s Challenges Impact Children?
• Children’s lives are at a crossroads due to the global challenges of conflict, climate change,
and disruptive technology and many other challenges.
o Conflict threatens children’s safety, access to education, and overall well-being.
o Climate change is risking their future by destroying ecosystems, displacing
communities, and causing health risks.
o Disruptive technology can either widen inequalities or create new opportunities for
children, depending on how it is managed.
These will be the areas of focus for World Children’s Day, but businesses are free to approach
children’s rights more broadly, or to relate to any specific children thematic that is close to
their heart.
Corporates as Key Players in Solving Global Issues.
• Businesses have the capacity to contribute to solutions by aligning their strategies with
children’s rights and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Businesses truly have a role in upholding children’s rights. Corporate leaders have influence
and could leverage children’s voices, making sure children are heard and included in
decisions that will shape their future.
Why Marking WCD?
- Be perceived as a company that feels concerned about children’s rights.
- Reach the new generation and be perceived as a CSR actor by them.
o Enhance employee engagement by fostering a sense of purpose and making room
for discussions around children’s matters.
- Inspire other businesses to celebrate WCD.
- Raise awareness on children’s rights at the workplace and through the company’s
network (employees, fans, customers…).
How Can Businesses Mark World Children’s Day?
1. Internal Employee Engagement
• Workshops and Dialogues: Host internal workshops or lunch & learn sessions to discuss
the global challenges impacting children today. Encourage employees and their children to
share their thoughts on how the company can contribute to addressing these issues. Possibly
tackle family-friendly initiatives at the workplace.
• Employee Participation in Social Responsibility: Encourage employees (and their children)
to participate in community or volunteer initiatives focused on children’s rights.
• Have a day where children can come to work with their
parents and take over key roles, assets, boards, channels (e.g.
company newsletter) and digital platforms (e.g. company's
website) to add their print. The red thread of the takeover will be
to help children express their views, concerns and reimagine the
future.
• Have activities around children’s rights. See here the
Convention on the Rights of the Child in a child-friendly format
and multiple languages, as well as some other resources for
possible activities.
• Be creative around the `blue´ thematic and turn some of the
company assets to blue.
2. Shine a Light on UNICEF work
• For existing UNICEF partners - Choose this date to illustrate how your partnership has
contributed to advancing the rights of children or amplify a partnership launch, announce a
new campaign, promote a cause-related marketing. For this, as well as for any co-creation
initiative, make sure you liaise with your UNICEF focal point that will be happy to support you.
• If you are not a UNICEF partner - Feel free to follow us and amplify UNICEF key messages
through resharing, reposting UNICEF WCD-related messages on your channels. They will be
available on the day on unicef.org, Facebook, X, LinkedIn. You are encouraged to also check
UNICEF national channels.
3. Partnerships with Schools and NGOs
• School and Community Partnerships: Corporates can collaborate with schools or
educational institutions to create activities that encourage children to share their vision for
the future on WCD. This could involve:
o Essay and Art Contests: Invite students to express their ideas about the future
through creative writing, drawings, or video projects. Offer rewards like scholarships,
prizes, or donations to their schools or centers.
o Kids Takeovers: Have kids take over key
roles in the company, talk about their future,
discuss global issues, and how the company
can help.
4. Outreach and Social Media Activations
• Community Outreach: Spread the World
Children’s Day message to customers, fans and
other relevant stakeholders. Encouraging them to
participate in events, share their visions for the
future, or contribute to causes that support
children’s rights.
• Social Media Engagement: Use the company’s social media platforms to amplify children’s
voices and ideas about the future. Engage in the campaign by using #WorldChildrensDay,
and encourage followers to:
- Share their ideas on how corporates can positively impact children’s futures.
- Highlight children’s contributions through their artwork and essays.
- Messages using #WorldChildrensDay on X might be added to UNICEF’s World Children’s Day page o UNICEF WCD-related messages will be published on the day on unicef.org, Facebook, X, LinkedIn. You are encouraged to also check UNICEF national channels.
5. Employee-Led Volunteering and Fundraising Initiatives
• Volunteer Days: Encourage employees to participate in volunteer days where they engage
directly with children, such as mentorship opportunities, or environmental cleanup initiatives.
• Fundraising Events for Children’s Rights: Organize fundraising events where employees
and the community can raise funds for UNICEF or other initiatives.
COMMUNICATION MATERIALS
LIVESTREAM:
Special event entitled "
The Right to Identity from Birth: Challenges and Perspectives for Francophone Countries", on the occasion of the celebration of the International Children's Rights Day from UNHQ.
