Kids are taking over!

On 20 November 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Thirty years later — and thirty years ago — on 20 November 1989, world leaders made a further historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting an international agreement on childhood – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Since its adoption, the CRC has helped improve the lives of millions of children through the progressive realization of rights and fulfillment of obligations enshrined within the Convention and its Optional Protocols. Children across the world have been recognized as individual holders of those rights inherent to the human dignity of all people. Children have equally been recognized as having the right to special protections and safeguards from those that constitute the duty-bearers in their lives and communities. To commemorate 30 years of CRC and World Children’s Day, UNICEF Brand Team planned and organized a special event at the United Nations Headquarters with children, special speakers and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors.

Please view here for World Children’s Day Hero Video which was played during the event.

Invitation:

Invitation from UNICEF Executive Director and Staff Engagement on World Children’s Day:

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Dear Colleagues,

On 20 November, we will celebrate 30 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. On this day, as we also celebrate UNICEF World Children’s Day, we will commemorate the successes made in reaching this milestone and address the challenges children and young people continue to face. We will be joined in a celebration at the General Assembly by others who have been integral to the UNICEF family, who have dedicated their best efforts to advancing the rights of children, along with some of the young people and children for whose rights and welfare we work for everyday.

In the spirit of celebrating this milestone, I am inviting you to enter the lottery to attend the United Nations General Assembly event taking place on 20 November commencing at 10:00am. This will be the culmination of a series of child-centered commemorations in regional, national, and local capacities, brought together in a global spotlight with the participation of UN Member States, civil society, and children – all celebrating the rights of the child.

For any questions, please email CRC30@unicef.org.

Don’t forget to wear your best blue outfit!

Sincerely,
Henrietta Fore
Executive Director
UNICEF

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Enter the lottery to attend the 30^th Anniversary
of the CRC event on World Children’s Day!
Deadline 13 November 5pm EST

To enter the lottery, please register before Wednesday, 13 November before 5:00pm.

World Children’s Day Activities for Staff

There will be a fun staff activation in the lobby from 9:00am to 4:00pm and staff will have an opportunity to make their personal pledges on child rights as we celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the Convention.
On 20 November, in collaboration with our partners Six Seconds, we will be hosting a POP-UP Festival in Danny Kaye to raise awareness on child rights, the SDGs and emotional intelligence. Children learn through storytelling and play, UNICEF parents are invited to join us with your kids from 3:00pm to 5:00pm for some fun and interactive activities around the important topics of wellbeing and children’s rights. You can RSVP here.

For even more blue fun on 20 November, check out the special World Children’s Day Color Factory experience in Soho from 4pm to 8pm. The Color Factory is a fun and immersive experience in the world of color, and great for children and adults alike.

You can purchase tickets here, and all profits from the event will be donated to UNICEF.

UNICEF has also collaborated with UN Publications for a very special edition of Kids Storytime at the UN Bookshop for World Children’s Day. Parents are invited to bring their kids to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals through a reading of “Frieda Makes A Difference” on 20 November at 3:15pm at the UN Bookshop, and join us at UNICEF House for the POP-UP Festival afterwards. For more info please e-mail wcd@unicef.org.

UNICEF Staff – it’s time to put your child rights knowledge to the test! UNICEF Norway has collaborated with Kahoot!, a game-based learning platform popular with teachers in classrooms around the world, to develop and launch three games around the CRC. With this World Children’s Day marking the extra special 30^th Anniversary of the CRC, we’re challenging YOU to test your child rights knowledge in our global Kahoot! challenge. Learn more here.

CRC30 & World Children’s Day Event Storyboard:

Event Screens:

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown addresses a global summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York, joining children and young people the world over in demanding action to protect and promote child rights. © UNICEF/UN0347408/Schipper/Getty

Professor Wole Soyinka speaks at a global summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York. © UNICEF/UN0347652/McIlwaine

On 20 November 2019, (on stage second from right and on screens) Volodymyr Charushyn, 16, answers a question asked of him during a panel discussion. The question came from (at podium) Mats Granryd, GSMA Director General. The UNICEF summit is part of celebrations marking World Children’s Day, which this year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. To commemorate the day, children are participating in similar summits in more than 50 countries, from Armenia to Jordan and from Ethiopia to Indonesia. © UNICEF/UN0347562/McIlwaine

Instagram footage:

Turning the World Blue for Child Rights:

In 2019, saw the concept of 'turning the world blue for child rights' really come to life with 68 countries lighting up iconic landmarks, from the Acropolis in Greece (which lit up in colour for the first time ever!), the Pyramids in Egypt, Landmark 81 in Viet Nam, Al Noor Mosque in New Zealand, Monument for African Renaissance in Senegal, Shanghai Tower in China, Rashtrapati Bhavan in India and many, many more.

In terms of Global and National Advocacy, 109 countries have aligned to the "Global Pledge: For every child, every right", and 24 countries secured new, specific and measurable national commitments from governments.