YESTERDAY, Guyana observed International Day for the Protection of Children, which is observed in many countries as Children’s Day. The World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, proclaimed June 1 to be International Children’s Day in 1925.International Children’s Day is the day of mobilisation of social opinion for child protection; observance of rights of children for life, education and leisure; for protection from physical and psychological violence; and exploitation of child labour as necessary conditions for construction of a fair society.
In the Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000, world leaders made a promise to assist children in fulfilling their human potential. Children born in that milestone year are now adolescents. The following is a socio-demographic profile review to determine whether the promise is being kept for these ‘Millennium children’ and for all adolescents. The 10th edition of UNICEF’s Progress for Children shows:

·   Universal education may seem a relatively straightforward goal, but it has proved as difficult as any to achieve. According to new data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) :
·   7 million primary-school-age children are still denied the right of education
·  32.2 million primary pupils were held back a grade in 2010
·   31.2 million dropped out of school, and may never return
·   Globally, girls are less likely to start school, but boys are more likely to repeat grades and leave school before completing primary education.

Millions of children work to help their families in ways that are neither harmful nor exploitative. However, UNICEF estimates that around 150 million children aged 5 – 14 in developing countries, about 16 % of all children in this age group, are involved in child labour.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 246 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 currently work. This is about 15% of the world’s children, and about 35% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
·         More than 10 million children are employed in drug-trafficking, sex work, and other hazardous labour.

The available data suggests that significant efforts in advocacy, programmes and policy are needed to realise the rights of children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly articulates the responsibility of adults to protect children’s rights, including their right to expression and involvement in shaping their own destinies, in keeping with their evolving capacities.
On November 20, 1958, the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.  In September 2012, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the initiative for the education of children. He firstly wanted that every child should be able to attend school by 2015, and secondly that they be able to improve the skillset acquired in these schools. His third goal was the implementation of policies regarding education to promote peace, respect and environmental concern.
Universal Children’s Day is not simply a day to celebrate children for who they are, but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have been subject to violence in forms of abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
Children are: Used as labourers in some countries; immersed in armed conflict; living on the streets; suffering because of differences, be it religious, minority or disability issues. Children feeling the effects of war can be displaced because of the armed conflict and/or suffer physical and psychological trauma.
The following violations are described in the term “children and armed conflict”: Recruitment and child soldiers; killing/maiming of children; abduction of children; attacks on schools/hospitals; and not allowing humanitarian access to children.
Studies have shown that currently, there are about 153 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 who are forced into child labour. The International Labour Organization in 1999 adopted the Prohibition and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, including slavery, child prostitution and child pornography.
The officially recognised date of Children’s Day varies from country to country, but here in Guyana, as aforementioned, June 1 is observed as International Day for the Protection of Children.
Education Minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand has iterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that children’s rights are addressed, and noted that it is a priority on its agenda, and that the Attorney-General’s Chambers has drafted the children’s legislation.
She explained that the legislation caters for the rights of children to be heard, and the right for them to participate in decision-making.
She said that the government of Guyana is being holistic in its approach, to ensure that children are treated the way they should, and disclosed that ever since the the drafting process began, careful consideration was given to ensure that children’s voices are heard.
By way of encouraging the children of Guyana, Minister Manickchand said, “You can be anything you want to be; just apply yourself.”
She also urged students to be aware of issues surrounding them daily that are putting them at a disadvantage, and to be strong and resolute in the pursuit of an education that will ensure for them a bright future.
Minister Manickchand was addressing children at a programme, the objectives and goals of which are aimed at empowering children nationally to speak out among their peers, caregivers/parents, decision-makers and the media.