Today is World Children’s Day 2022

Every year on 20 November, World Children’s Day is celebrated. The day is UNICEF's annual day of action for children, by children.

Date 2022-11-20 Author BIK Team Section awareness Topic media literacy/education Audience children and young people, parents and carers, research, policy and decision makers
Two children smiling and looking at a computer

The day is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. 

Background 

World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day. The date of 20 November is chosen as on 20 November 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the same date in which, in 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, World Children's Day marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children's rights. 

Inclusion, For Every Child 

This year, the theme for World Children’s Day is ‘Inclusion, for Every Child’ and the day is celebrated all around the world. 

To commemorate the day, the European Commission and the High Representative released a joint statement on the occasion of World Children’s Day, to share their support. As mentioned in the statement: 

33 years after the signature of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we highlight the fact that children's rights are universal human rights. The European Year of Youth has been key to ensuring that the concerns and needs of children and young people remain at the heart of EU policymaking. 

 

The EU is committed to ensuring the protection, promotion and fulfilment of the rights of the child, which is a Treaty objective and a core commitment of the European Union. Every child, regardless of its background, origins, socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation or abilities has access to the exactly the same set of rights and protection. 

 

Watch UNICEF’s video for this year’s celebration of World Children’s Day below. 

 

Better Internet for Kids for World Children’s Day

Here on the Better Internet for Kids portal, we are fully committed to making sure that children are protected, empowered and respected online. Have a look at our work, articles and resources for children: 

  • Around the world, children are going online earlier and staying online for longer. To ensure their protection, empowerment and respect in the online environment, the European Commission launched the new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids in May 2022, which was also mentioned by the Commission and High Representative in their joint statement. Read more about the new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+). 
  • To ensure that the pillars of the BIK+ strategy are enacted, and to make sure that children and young people truly are protected, empowered and respected online, a child-friendly version of the strategy was created. You can read and download the English version here. The child-friendly version will soon be available in all EU languages plus Icelandic, Norwegian and Ukrainian.   
  • Children and young people are at the heart of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) agenda, in which the European Commission (EC), Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across Europe, and other stakeholders work together to ensure that every young European has access to a digital environment where they feel protected, empowered and respected whenever they go online, that they can access and enjoy what the online world has to offer, and know where to seek support if needed. That is why they have a dedicated space on the BIK portal.  
  • Our guide to apps aims to provide key information about some of the most popular apps, social networking sites and other platforms which are commonly being used by children and young people (and adults) today.   

Learn more about World Children’s Day on the website of UNICEF and keep an eye on #WorldChildrensDay on social media.    

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