World Children's Day today: UNICEF urges action on global inequalities

"A child is a child," stresses Elder, emphasising equality and action to improve the lives of all children

GENEVA:

This year's World Children's Day, rather than a celebration, represents a fight for survival for millions of children worldwide, according to a UNICEF spokesperson who spoke to Anadolu Agency. Conflicts, climate crises, and systemic neglect are destroying young lives, said James Elder.

"World Children's Day should be a time for celebration and reflection. For children in Gaza and Lebanon, however, it is about survival rather than celebration," Elder remarked. He highlighted the situation in Sudan, where five million children have been affected, including one million under the age of five who have been displaced by violence. He also noted the intensifying attacks in Ukraine.

"It will be an extraordinarily heavy day," Elder said ahead of the internationally recognised observance. From wars and mental health crises to climate-related issues, he stressed that leaders have a tremendous responsibility to address these challenges and condemned the prevailing impunity.

World Children's Day, established by the UN in 1954, is commemorated annually on 20 November to promote international solidarity, raise awareness of children’s rights, and drive actions to improve their well-being. It also marks the anniversaries of the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. However, this year's observance is overshadowed by the severe struggles of children caught in global crises.

Elder called on world leaders to honour their obligations under international humanitarian law and treaties to safeguard children and prioritise their needs.

He urged them to reflect for 10 minutes on World Children's Day, imagining how they would respond if their own children were suffering such horrors, and to use their influence to take meaningful action.

While the crises in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan dominate global headlines, UNICEF emphasised the need to address the challenges faced by children everywhere. "Children living in poverty in South Africa, orphans in Malawi, children subjected to labour in Bangladesh, and mental health struggles in Sydney – a child is a child, regardless of location," Elder stated.

He urged individuals in positions of influence, local authorities, and families to pause on World Children's Day and consider ways to better support children in their communities.

Addressing the difficulties faced by the media and international organisations in maintaining focus on children's issues amid new and ongoing crises, Elder criticised the often sensationalist nature of news cycles. He stressed the importance of long-term investments, both psychological and physical, if there is to be hope for a better future in the coming decades.