ON November 20, World Children’s Day (WCD) was observed. All would agree that the dedication of a day to the observance of the interests of the world’s children is not only appropriate, but also necessary. After all, today’s children are the business leaders, politicians, doctors, lawyers, carpenters, engineers, farmers, economists, and scientists of tomorrow; just to name a few. Fortunately, Guyana has a president, Brigadier David Granger, who genuinely cares about children, and is committed to ensuring that children have a good future, perhaps better lives than our generation has had.

World Children’s Day, also known as Universal Children’s Day, was officially established by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1954. This day is promoted and coordinated by UNICEF and the United Nations Children’s Fund which also works towards the improvement of children’s welfare. According to UNICEF, WCD is “a time to celebrate and a time to demand action.” UNICEF elaborates, stating that “it is time for every child, to have every right.”

In 1954, World Children’s Day was first established as Universal Children’s Day, and it was decided to observe and celebrate the day on November 20 of every year. The General Assembly on December 14, 1954, by the resolution 836 (IX) recommended that all the countries institute a Universal Children’s Day as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. This day is also devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the United Nations (UN) Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. November 20 is also significant because it was on that date in 1959 that the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Additionally, it is also the date on which the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. The Convention is focused on protecting children’s rights. The document articulates the responsibilities of governments with regard to children. It also states that all rights are connected and cannot be taken away from children. According to the Convention, children are not just objects who belong to their parents and for whom decisions are made, children are not adults in training. Rather, they are human beings and individuals who have their own rights. Further, it is mentioned that childhood is separate from adulthood and lasts until 18. It is a special time in which children are allowed to grow, learn, play and develop. Clearly, the importance of the Convention cannot be overstated. Guyana is, of course, a signatory to the Convention.

President David Granger has always emphasised the importance of taking care of Guyana’s children. In fact, His Excellency expressed his personal feeling on the matter. The President said, “I have no doubt in my mind that the happiest moment in my life is when I was 26 and my first daughter was born all of 48 years ago. It is a sense of responsibility; there is a sense of joy, knowing that you participated in bringing a human life into this world.”
Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ms. Ann Greene agrees with President Granger’s view. Ms. Greene said, “Children have the right to survival, children have a right not to be abused, they have a right to care, they have a right to be educated – to be sent to school, children have rights, a whole lot of rights, just like adults…a right to have a name, a right to an identity…their right to a family, if they don’t have a family, the State should provide a family.” The Agency of which Ms. Greene is Director is a statutory one with legal powers. The Agency derives its powers from several Acts of Parliament such as the Childcare and Development Services Act of 2009, Sexual Offences Act of 2010 and the Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act of 2011.

As the David Granger government works towards the eradication of physical and sexual exploitation of children, the elimination of child labour, and other noble objectives, the Granger government is also working to ensure that every child gets a good education. Programmes such as the president’s 5Bs initiative are but one example of such positive intervention. Under the 5Bs programme, some 4,000 bicycles, 29 buses, 14 boats, books, and meals have so far been made available to children, schools, and communities countrywide, with the objective of increasing school-attendance.

As Guyana joined with the international community to observe the day, we should remember that the ideals emphasised on World Children’s Day, each year, apply, not only to one day per year, but to every day. And, while we have come a long way in recognising the importance of taking care of our children, there is still work to be done towards developing the minds, bodies, and spirits of our greatest asset– our children. Fortunately, parents may rest assured that the future of our children is in good hands.