International Children’s Day is celebrated by more than 50 countries on June 1 and another 100 countries have similar celebrations on the same day. International Children’s Day was declared a holiday by the Romanian Parliament in 2016.
International Children’s Day, which is not the same as Universal Children’s Day, is celebrated annually on June 1. Although widely celebrated, many countries do not recognize June 1 as Children’s Day, informs compassion.com.
Over the years, several denominations declared or recommended an annual observance be held for children, but no government action has been taken. Past presidents have periodically proclaimed a National Child’s Day or National Children’s Day, but no official yearly celebration of National Children’s Day has been established in the United States.
The International Day for Protection of Children is also observed on June 1 and has helped elevate June 1 as the internationally recognized day to celebrate children. The International Day for Protection of Children became universally established in 1954 to protect children’s rights, end child labor and guarantee access to education.
Universal Children’s Day was created to change the way children are viewed and treated by society and to improve children’s welfare. First established by a United Nations’ Resolution in 1954, Universal Children’s Day is a day to advocate for and champion the rights of children. Children’s rights are not special rights or different rights. They are fundamental human rights. A child is a human being, entitled to be treated as one and should be celebrated as such.
In Romania, the Parliament of Children decided in 2016 to promote a draft law aiming to make June 1 a legal national holiday. The campaign was supported by Itsy Bitsy FM, the children’s radio station. The project was approved by the Parliament of Romania at the end of 2016. Starting from 2017, June 1 has become an official holiday in Romania.
In 2009, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided that the first Sunday of June should be dedicated to all children and parents who have been brought up in the light of Christian values.
Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
