Young leaders are
ready for change
National Child Day
What is National Child Day?
In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on the fundamental rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities. Every year on November 20, Canada celebrates National Child Day to mark a historic moment for child rights.
This National Child Day is the 36th anniversary of the CRC. The world’s most widely ratified treaty, which Canada also signed and ratified, the CRC outlines the government’s responsibilities with respect to promoting, protecting, and fulfill children’s right.
Why prioritize children and youth
Despite promising progress led by the adoption of the Convention, millions of children continue to suffer violations of their rights when they are denied adequate healthcare, nutrition, education and protection from violence. Today, childhoods across the world continue to be threated by global challenges like the rise of conflict, climate change and rising cost of living.
UNICEF estimates that 213 million children in 146 countries and territories require humanitarian assistance. Global cuts to aid and crises in places like Gaza and Sudan are making it even harder for children to access the support they need most.
Children in Canada are also facing challenges. According to UNICEF’s Report Card 19, Canada currently ranks 19th out of 36 high-income countries on child well-being. One in five children report experiencing frequent bullying and Canada reported one of the highest adolescent suicide rates among wealthy countries.
How can you get involved?
The Convention
There’s no article in The Convention on the Rights of the Child that says children should wait for their turn. Every child is born with equal rights to safety, education, health, belonging, and a say in decisions that shape their lives. We worked with young people to develop a child-friendly version of the CRC and designed it as a poster, deck of cards, and booklet you can download, share, and use in classrooms, community spaces, and at home.
The Summit
Youth have the most important things to say. Participants of UNICEF Canada’s Youth Advocacy Program are coming together at the Youth Advocacy Summit to mark National Child Day and use their voices to advocate for more robust policies and programs to safeguard and grow children’s futures. They will be joined by policymakers and civil society partners to turn thoughts and ideas into action. Registrations are now open to join the event online.
The Playbook
Who better than the future to shape the future? Youth are calling on Canada’s decision makers to make space for them at the table. Together, they’ve developed the Reimagine Playbook, which lays out their vision for a stronger Canada with protection for children’s rights, equitable access to health care, inclusive governance, quality education, and urgent action on climate.
