PURPOSE: The Universal Children’s Day is celebrated annually on November 20th. Its goal is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness amongst all children. Initially launched in 1954, Universal Children’s day has seen some milestone events in the field of child welfare. The day is an occasion to mark the anniversary of the dates when the United Nations General assembly adopted both the Declaration of the rights of the child and the convention of children’s rights. The OHCHR through the convention sets out a number of children’s rights such as the rights to be protected from violence and discrimination and the rights to life, health and education. UNICEF has helped save and meaningfully improve more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization. Other organizations help children, but UNICEF does more by fighting for children’s rights and delivering the essentials every child needs for an equitable chance in life. UNICEF won’t stop until every child is healthy, educated, protected and respected. That is why the General assembly charged the UNICEF to supervize the global celebration worldwide.

FORUM: “Listen to the future. Stand up for children’s rights.” World Children’s Day 2024. Child rights are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places today children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded or even denied and attacked. By listening to children we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today. Upholding children’s rights is the compass to a better world – today, tomorrow and into the future. A better future For Every Child is possible, and children are leading the way. By championing their right to be heard, we can better fulfill the rights of every child, everywhere. Children’s rights are human rights and today, children’s rights are under attack. On this Day we will making space for children and young people to raise their voices on the issues that matter to them and will thanking every person doing everything in their power to protect children and their rights, even in the most impossible situations. By prioritizing children's rights and participation, we can help to build a better future for all. For Every Child, we wish hope. Explore resources for parents and teachers on child rights and Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldChildrensday, #20November; #ForEveryChild, #EveryRight.

EVENTS: On November 20th; The United Nations General Assembly, The UNICEF, the OHCHR and several specialized agencies will host an event to mark the World Children’s Day 2024 at UNHQ; From children and young people taking over to famous landmarks turning blue, here’s a taste of what to expect on the day. Children will ‘take over’ high-visibility roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment normally held by adults to shine a spotlight on issues that matter to them. Kids are speaking out and re-imagining a better future. The 2024 theme, “Listen to the Future” will focus on today’s global challenges that are threatening children’s futures.

On November 20th; From 11:00 to 13:30 pm New york time at UNHQ, the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United Nations, the OIF -Francophonie, the U.S Department of Homeland Security, Vital Strategies, and the UNICEF will be held a Special event entitled "The Right to Identity from Birth: Challenges and Perspectives for Francophone Countries".

With World Children’s Day approaching, actors from the private sector are encouraged to share activities they can implement. Explore what’s happening around the world!

PUBLICATIONS: This year also, UNICEF’s flagship State of the World’s Children’ (SOWC) report will be released on November 20th. The SOWC 2024 will focus on three megatrends affecting children today and in the future: the climate crisis, disruptive technologies and demographic change. As we near the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, The State of the World’s Children 2024 looks ahead to the year 2050. It asks: How can we best secure a future where the rights of every child are realized – a world where all children survive, thrive and meet their full potential?; This report examines three powerful, long-term global forces – megatrends – that will profoundly impact children’s lives between now and 2050: demographic shifts, the climate and environmental crises, and frontier technologies. By understanding these trends and their implications for children, we can better grasp the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Drawing on the megatrends and other socio-economic indicators, SOWC 2024 models how several potential pathways could shape how children experience the world of 2050. These scenarios are possible outcomes, not predictions: The future is ours to shape. Children's perspectives are included through the voices of UNICEF U-Reporters and Youth Foresight Fellows.Read the full report and the executive summary of the State of the World's Children's 2024 entitled "What does the future hold for the world's children?" in French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic!

Progress on Children’s Well-being: Centring child rights in the 2030 Agenda - The UNICEF examined available data on the 48 child-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators which the agency regularly monitors. Organized around five domains of child well-being. These indicators capture the breadth of children’s lived experiences. When viewed together – rather than as individual sectors – they provide a rich, nuanced picture of children’s lives that tell us which children are thriving and which children are being left behind. Read the report!

Progress on Children’s Well-being: Country Briefs - These country briefs leverage UNICEF’s extensive analysis of 48 child-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators. A benchmarking exercise compares countries against global standards, income groupings, and geographical areas, offering a systematic framework to monitor and compare progress across various child-related SDG indicators. Current country performance is assessed and the necessary rate of to achieve 2030 targets is calculated. Read the report!

9 Facts about Children on the Move - How many children are on the move today? What are their countries of origin, countries of destination and their primary migration routes? How many of them have been forcibly displaced? This brochure – a product of the International Data Alliance for Children on the MOVE (IDAC) – answers these questions and more. Using the latest available data, it shares a critical set of data visualizations, succinct analyses and top-line messages about migrant and displaced children today. Read the report!

International Classification of Violence against Children (ICVAC) - ICVAC includes operational definitions of all forms of violence against children and covers interpersonal and collective violence, both in times of peace and during internal or international armed conflict. The classification will provide countries with a tool to capture and categorize incidents of violence and consequently assess the extent to which their national definitions and data collection efforts comply with internationally-agreed standards. Read the report!

STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Children’s Day 2024; November 20th and the Statement of the UNICEF Executive-Director on World Children’s Day 2024; November 20th.