Today we mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child!

Date: 20th November 2019
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Celebrations are taking place all over the world to mark the occasion! Together’s members and supporters are hosting a number of events and campaigns across Scotland.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a landmark agreement by governments around the world on the rights of children.

The UNCRC was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20th November 1989 and became the most widely and rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history. 196 countries have ratified it, including the United Kingdom on 16th December 1991.

• Learn more about the UNCRC here.

 

UNCRC 30th anniversary celebrations 

Celebrations across Scotland include:

• World Children’s Day Reception at the Scottish Parliament on 20th November, will be led and designed by children and young people and will be an opportunity to hear directly from them about the issues that matter most in their lives
• Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland’s celebrations included a three-day residential Young People’s Human Rights Gathering from 15-17th November 2019 and #7WordStory on children’s rights campaign.
• Children’s Parliament National Sitting and Children’s Rights March on 6th of November brought together children and adults from across Scotland to celebrate 30 years of children’s rights
• Children in Scotland issued a UNCRC Special Edition of their magazine, including children’s rights articles from experts
• The 6th Participation Network Event in Edinburgh, taking place on 29th and 30th November at the University of Edinburgh, will give a unique opportunity for exploring how the UNCRC has helped transform the lives of children and young people and what this means for participation in the future
• Starcatchers launched Making My Mark campaign, to celebrate the role that arts and creative experiences can play in helping babies and children under 5 learn about their rights and express their voice.

 

Celebrations around the UK include:

• Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People is organising a Day of Celebration, on the 20th November, bringing together almost 2,000 children and young people from across Northern Ireland to celebrate their rights and the positive difference the UNCRC has made on their lives.
• Children in Wales organised a celebratory event in Cardiff on the 19th November, including input from young people from across Wales, workshops and round table discussions.
• UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools programme put together 30 activities to celebrate the 30 years of the UNCRC, which can be incorporated into lesson plans or assemblies.
• University College London (UCL) and Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) organised a one day conference to celebrate the rights and activism of children and young people in England and across the globe was held on 7th November in London.

 

International celebrations include:

• Three-day international conference at the Palais des Nations (United Nations headquarters) in Geneva on 18th, 19th and 20th November.
• Encouraged by Committee on Rights of the Child, a number of UNCRC member states have issued pledges to re-state their commitment to children's rights.