World Children’s Day Celebrated to Protect Child Rights
Iconic landmarks around the world turned blue to mark World Children’s Day on November 20, as UNICEF celebrated the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.
In Christchurch, New Zealand, the Al Noor Mosque, the scene of a tragedy in which 51 people lost their lives in an attack on the Muslim community in March 2019, was lit blue as a symbol of unity.
In Greece, the Acropolis of Athens shined blue. This is the very first time that the UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most iconic ancient monuments has been lit in colour. In New York, UNICEF China Ambassador Wang Yuan planned to light up the Empire State Building in blue, the second year that the famous landmark has celebrated World Children’s Day.
Other buildings that lit up in blue included the European Parliament in Belgium, Shanghai Tower in China, House of Peoples’ Representatives in Ethiopia, Panthéon in France, Rashtrapati Bhavan in India, Petra in Jordan, Frida Kahlo House in Mexico, Peace Palace in the Hague, Netherlands, Panama Canal in Panama, Monument for African Renaissance in Senegal, Cristo Rei monument in Timor-Leste and Galata Tower and the bridges on the Bosphorus in Turkey.
At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors David Beckham and Millie Bobby Brown headlined a global summit where they joined children and young people in demanding action to protect and promote child rights. Children participated in similar summits in more than 50 countries, from Armenia to Jordan and from Ethiopia to Indonesia.
World Children’s Day – celebrated on 20th November every year – aims to raise awareness and funds for the millions of children that are denied their right to adequate health care, nutrition, education, and protection.
