Children's Rights Day 2024
35 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Today we celebrate UN Children's Rights Day and commemorate the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 35 years ago, on 20 November 1989. This landmark agreement has fundamentally changed the lives of millions of children worldwide and lays the foundation for the protection and promotion of children's rights in all areas of life.
The Convention consists of 54 articles addressing a wide range of rights, including the right to education, protection from violence and exploitation, the right to health and to have a say in matters that affect them. These rights are tailored to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and reflect the universal values of human rights.
Over the past 35 years, governments, NGOs like CONCORDIA and communities around the world have made progress in implementing these rights. Education has become more accessible, the fight against child labour and exploitation has gained importance, and many children now live in safer and healthier environments. On this special day, we should not only celebrate the successes, but also renew our commitment to stand up for the rights of all children. Because there is still a lot to be done. In many regions, children still face challenges such as poverty, conflicts and discrimination that endanger their rights and their development.
In all of our programme countries, we are working to ensure that children's rights are strengthened and, above all, not violated. One focus here is on measures to prevent violence, as corporal punishment and violence are still very common.