Many countries, including Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, hold Universal Children's Day events on November 20 to mark the anniversaries of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, other countries hold events on different dates, such as the fourth Wednesday in October (Australia) and November 14 (India). Universal Children's Day is not observed in the United States, although a similar observance, National Child's Day, is held on the first Sunday in June.
On November 20, 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and on November 20, 1989, it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, Universal Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the declaration and the convention on children's rights. [the U.S.A. did not sign off on this declaration]
For information on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, go to: http://www.unicef.org/crc/
K. Swales, Coordinator
Partners for Children
School of Health, Education and Human Services
Yukon College, P.O. Box 2799
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 5K4
Ph: 867.668.8829
Fax: 867.668.8890
