On 1 June, the World Celebrates International Children’s Day
In 1924, the League of Nations adopted the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first landmark in the development and affirmation of the idea that children’s rights must be protected. Subsequently, in 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, followed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
The International Conferences of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 1986 and 1995 adopted resolutions emphasising the importance of respecting and protecting children in armed conflict.
The Fourth Geneva Convention itself, specifically Articles 23-24, 38, 50, 76, and 89, as well as Additional Protocol I, Article 70(1) and Article 77(1), state that all parties to an armed conflict must take effective measures to ensure that “children receive the special protection, care, and assistance” to which they are entitled.
This holiday holds special significance in Ukraine, particularly considering the ongoing war. Many children and their parents have been forced to flee their hometowns and homes, while those living in the areas close to the front lines and occupied territories are constantly exposed to danger. Some children have lost their parents, while others have been forcibly displaced from Ukraine. Consequently, child protection has become one of the most pressing issues today. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, 1,356 children have been injured to varying degrees of severity, and 550 children have been killed.
This day is an opportunity to remember that every child has the right to a safe and happy childhood. Our mission is to do everything we can to ensure that every child in Ukraine has a peaceful childhood, and we need your support. Children are our future.
This day is an opportunity to remind the world that every child has the right to a safe and happy childhood and to have access to education. We must do everything possible to ensure that every child in Ukraine can have a happy childhood.