World Children’s Day, also known as Hari Anak Sedunia, is commemorated every year on November 20th. For the year 2025, UNICEF has chosen the theme “My Day, My Rights”. The purpose of World Children’s Day is to raise global awareness about children’s rights, well-being, and to advocate for issues that affect the future of children.
The theme for the 2025 World Children’s Day, “My Day, My Rights”, emphasizes that today belongs to children, reminding everyone that children are entitled to rights, including the right to protection, education, health, participation in social life, and to be heard. Various activities can be carried out to commemorate World Children’s Day, focusing on addressing the voices and needs of children.
Firstly, learning about children’s rights is crucial in becoming advocates for children’s rights. Understanding the history of children’s rights, the content of each right, and the reasons behind the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is essential to respect and fight for children’s rights properly. There are many online learning resources about children’s rights designed for adults and children, including child-friendly versions of the CRC.
Campaigns are also commonly held on World Children’s Day to emphasize the importance of children’s rights and call on world leaders to accelerate efforts to protect and fulfill these rights. These campaigns can take place online through social media campaigns, webinars, conferences, and face-to-face seminars discussing specific aspects of children’s rights.
Another popular activity is the “kids’ takeovers” event, where children get the opportunity to take over important roles in media, politics, business, sports, and entertainment to highlight issues they find important. By providing children with a platform to express their ideas and actions, the “kids’ takeovers” aim to create a future that better respects and protects children’s rights.
Moreover, on November 20th, schools and significant historical buildings worldwide are illuminated or painted blue to show support for children’s rights. Landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in France, Chichen Itza in Mexico, and many others have participated in this campaign. In 2019, iconic buildings like the Acropolis of Athens, the Empire State Building in the USA, and the European Parliament Building in Belgium, were illuminated in blue to commemorate World Children’s Day.
The celebration of World Children’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of children’s rights and the need to prioritize their well-being and future. Through education, campaigns, kids’ takeovers, and symbolic gestures like lighting up buildings blue, we can all contribute to creating a world where children’s rights are respected and protected.
