“We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of humankind.”
– We the Children: End-decade review of the follow-up to the World Summit for Children
November 20 is Universal Children’s Day, which marks the adoption of two important United Nations doctrines that seek to ensure that all children have the chance to lead healthy, productive lives and are kept safe from mistreatment and abuse: the Declaration of the Rights of the Child(1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
Notably, the 1989 convention calls for adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking water as well as hygiene and environmental sanitation for all children.
While countries celebrate Children’s Day at different times throughout the year (September 10 in Honduras, for example), events promote exchange and understanding among children and encourage actions that benefit and promote the welfare of children worldwide.
It only costs $25 to provide a child in Haiti or Honduras with safe water. Click here to make a difference for a child this Universal Children’s Day.