“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,” remarked UN Secretary-General António Guterres in reference to the occasion.

World Children’s Day, established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day, is celebrated annually on 20 November to promote global unity, raise awareness about children’s issues, and improve their welfare. Since 1990, it also marks the anniversary of the UN General As­sembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Convention on Children’s Rights, highlighting the importance of protecting and advocating for children’s rights worldwide.

World Children’s Day is a global event focused on pro­moting children’s rights and well-being. It raises awareness about the challenges children face and advocates for their right to education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation. The day high­lights the importance of safe­guarding children’s futures and ensuring they grow up in safe, supportive environments.

The day serves not only as a celebration but also as a call to action, urging governments, organizations, and communi­ties to uphold the principles set forth in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to con­tinue working toward a world where every child has access to basic needs and a safe en­vironment. This landmark in­ternational treaty is the most widely ratified human rights agreement in history, under­scoring the global commitment to ensuring that children have the opportunity to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. The CRC outlines the civil, po­litical, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of children, emphasizing the importance of making these rights accessible to every child.

The theme for Universal Children’s Day 2024 is “For every child, every right”. This theme highlights the importance of ensuring that all children have access to their fundamental rights, such as educa­tion, healthcare, protection, and a safe environment. In Myanmar, efforts are being made to nurture children in every possible way. The country has effective laws and regulations in place to protect children’s rights, including compulsory primary education and the KG+9 educational programme, aimed at improving the lives of children.

Relevant ministries are responsible for ensuring the protection of children’s social and educational rights as fundamental rights. As children represent the future workforce, the government aims to shape them into reliable citizens who will contribute to building a modern nation enriched with advanced technologies and strong social ethics, creating a society that benefits all people.