PURPOSE: The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression observed every year on 4 June, reaffirms the United Nations commitment to protect the rights of children. Its work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history. However, grave violations affecting children in times of war continue to this day. Among them, the most common are six grave violations: the killing and maiming of children, the recruitment or use of children as soldiers, the sexual violence against children, the abduction of children, the attacks against schools or hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access for children. In 2005, the United Nations Security Council established a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) to systematically monitor, document and report on violations committed against children, including the aforementioned six grave violations. Based on the information it collects, the United Nations Secretary-General names parties to conflicts who commit such grave violations. The aim is to name and shame them into ending their violations. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides us with the universal master plan to secure a better future for children. The new agenda includes for the first time a specific target (16.2) to end all forms of violence against children, and ending the abuse, neglect and exploitation of children is mainstreamed across several other violence-related targets.
FORUM: “Advocating for the protection, safety and rights of all children.“ International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Agression 2024. This celebration for individuals and organizations is a time to reflect on the impact of children violence and abuse in all its forms. It is also a moment to take part in awareness campaigns centered on protecting children’s rights. The United Nations Secretary-General have identified 24 parties (5 states and 19 non-state actors) to conflict engaged with killing and maiming of children; 61 parties (7 states and 56 non-state actors) responsible for the recruitment or use of children as soldiers, 30 parties (4 states and 16 non-state parties) engaged responsible for perpetrating rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, 15 parties (1 state and 14 non-state) involved in abduction of children, 13 parties engaged in attacks against schools or hospitals. These are not the numbers you would expect to see in the 21st century, especially considering the work carried out in establishing international treaties which provide various fundamental human rights protections for children. However, as evidence shows, children continue to be targeted in conflict. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #ChildViolence, #4june, #ChildVictimsDay, #childabuse, #ChildProtection.
EVENTS: On June 4th, from the UNHQ, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations Security Council ‘s Working group on Children and Armed Conflict; the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UNICEF, the UNODC, the UNICRI and several United Nations Specialized agencies, will organize a webinar to mark the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2024. This year marks the 42nd commemoration of the International Day. Forty two year ago, On 19 August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the United Nations General Assembly concerning the number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression, established a resolution to commemorate June 4th as International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. The General assembly invites the member states; International organizations; regional organizations; Local authorities; Civil society, including faith-based organizations; academics and other experts; Social services, the media; Community members; Human rights defenders and individuals. The issue of Child abuse is now in the spotlight of global attention and the United Nations is working hard to help protect children around the world. One key factor is the process of international negotiation and action centered around the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Encouraging the Innocent Children victims of aggression to break the silence and speak out. Get the Campaign materials!
PODCASTS: More needs to be done to protect the 250 million children living in countries and areas affected by conflict. More must be done to protect children from targeting by violent extremists, to promote international humanitarian and human rights law, and to ensure accountability for violations of the rights of children. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Day of Children Victims of Aggression is co-organized by the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Peacekeeping, the United Nations Secretary-General Representative for Children and Armed Conflicts, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):, the United Nations Committee on the Right of the Child, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
With the participation of the United Nations member states, civil society organisations and national parliaments.
On 19 August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the United Nations General Assembly, “appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression”, decided to commemorate June '4th of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN's commitment to protect the rights of children. Its work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.
To Learn more, we invite you to read The United Nations Study on Violence against Children.
Contribute to the efforts to improve the protection of children in conflict situations.
Raise awareness on the most common violations of human Rights, the recruitment and use of children in war, the killing, the sexual violence, the abduction, the attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.
Address the vulnerabilities and violations faced by children in conflict-related situations.
Help children to understand that their bodies belongs to them, that there are good and bad secrets and good and bad touches.
Teach children “the golden rules of screens”, a basic set of rules, to empower children to protect their privacy and their image in the digital environment.
Offer children the possibility to understand through one girl’s story, what violence is and how children can be protected from it.
Explore through stories of several young people some of the ways in which sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children can occur today.
Illustrate the psychological pressure that family abusers can apply on their victims.
Provide access to the various initiatives like: The need for dedicated attention, Advocacy and coordinated effort.