Universal Children’s Day is being observed Sunday (Today) to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improving children s welfare.
Academic institutions, government departments and civil society organisations would commence special events to commemorate the Universal Children’s Day organised annually on November 20.
The day was first announced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1954. Like other parts of the world, special events would be organised here at public as well as private sector organisations.
The theme of the day this year is Stop Violence against the Children.
Besides, challenges for progress and prosperity of children would also be discussed for better future of our future generations with the participants including bureaucrats, child rights activists, scholars, educationists and student leaders. Civil society organisations would also hold colourful events, talk shows, walks and debate competitions to highlight problems faced by the children in the society, a representative of civil society informed this agency.
Special events, seminars and conferences are being arranged in Pakistan on public and private sectors to observe the day.
President Mamnoon Hussain while reaffirming the commitment and determination to safeguard children’s rights said the Government has undertaken all necessary measures to ensure better livelihood, education, healthcare and protection of children.
The dropout rate in children, increasing the enrolment of children in schools, provision of basic facilities in schools according to the strength of students in respective schools, quality of education and character building of children besides new avenues for skilled education would be main topics of discussions, he added.
Originally, the goal to celebrate the day was to encourage children of all races, creeds and religions to spend time together.
November 20 is also the anniversary of the day when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was then signed on the same day in 1989 which has since been ratified by 191 states.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his message on Universal Children’s Day urged the federal ministries and provincial governments to sincerely undertake the required legislative, administrative and social sector reforms for creating an enabling environment for children in the country.
“I urge the civil society NGOs philanthropists international development partners media and corporate sectors to come forward as partners and play an effective role for protection of child rights to make Pakistan a child friendly country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Minister for Human Rights Senator Kamran Micheal in his message on Universal Children’s Day said that Pakistan stands firm in its commitment and accords top priority to children in ensuring their survival protection development and participation rights.
“At the regional level, Pakistan is also signatory to the SAARC Convention on Regional Arrangements for the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia; and SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution,” HR minister said.
He said that it is heartening to note that Pakistan joins the international community to celebrate the Day with great fervour and enthusiasm. “The celebration of this day reminds us of our obligations and commitments for the rights of our children,” he added.
