International Children's Day
Sunday, 01 June 2025
International Children’s Day, which falls on the first
day of summer, has been celebrated around the world
since 1950.
The decision to hold it was made by the Women’s International Democratic Federation at a special session in November 1949. The United Nations supported this initiative and declared the protection of the rights, lives, and health of children as one of its priority areas of activity.
In 1959, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It contained articles urging parents, state authorities, local governments, national governments, and non-governmental organizations to recognize the rights and freedoms of children set forth therein and to strive to uphold them; however, it was only advisory in nature. The first and main international legal document in which the rights of the child were addressed at the level of international law was the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the UN on November 20, 1989. It was signed by 61 countries. On July 13, 1990, the Convention was ratified by the USSR.
In our country, the rights and legitimate interests of young citizens are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the Marriage and Family Code of the Republic of Belarus, the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the Rights of the Child,” and many other documents. The primary right of all children is to have a family and a decent standard of living within it. Therefore, Belarus has implemented a number of measures aimed at supporting the younger generation.
Children’s Day is not only a joyful celebration for children themselves, but also a reminder to society of the need to protect children’s rights, to do everything possible to ensure that children grow up happy and healthy, study and pursue what they love, and in the future become wonderful parents and worthy citizens of their country.