GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The United Nation's (UN) Universal Children's Day, was established in 1954, and is celebrated on November 20. Each year countries promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide.
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), promotes and coordinates this special day, which also works towards improving children's welfare.
On November 20, countries use the date to highlight the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Hon. Silveria Jacobs, would like to wish the young people of the nation a happy Children's Day.
"Universal Children's Day acknowledgement represents important steps that were taken in the 1950s and 1980s with respect to children's rights, an obligation, which has to be respected by all.
"Making a commitment to respect the rights of children has profound implications for the status of children in our society. Children are subjects of rights, and those rights impose obligations on adults to ensure their implementation, and it is necessary to address the inter-relation between the rights embodied in the Convention in order to promote respect for children.
"One of the most important rights of the Convention states that all children capable of expressing a view have the right to do so freely in all matters of concern to them and that their view shall be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.
"On this 2012 Universal Children's Day, I call on parents and guardians to reflect on the aforementioned, on how this takes place within their own family circle. Communication and dialogue are the foundations of excellent family interaction. Happy Children's Day," Minister Jacobs said on Monday.
On December 14, 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should introduce an annual event from 1956 known as Universal Children's Day to encourage fraternity and understanding between children all over the world and promoting the welfare of children.
On November 20, 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and on November 20, 1989, it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, Universal Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the declaration and the convention on children's rights.