The 20th of November is World Children’s Day, a day commemorated all around the world. It is a day of action for children marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Each year, World Children’s Day focuses on raising awareness about issues affecting children globally, such as education, health, safety, and well-being. The day encourages everyone, from governments to organizations and individuals, to take action to create a better world for children.

The theme for this year is listen to the future! By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today.

On the occasion of World Children’s day, the Office is supporting and encouraging schools to organise school-based activities. Over 60 schools will be participating. In line with this, the Office has developed and disseminated toolkit, which promotes children’s right to participation. It consists of two videos (one for Primary and one for Middle/Secondary School) as well as a lesson plan that goes with the video.

Child Participation is a priority for the Office and throughout the scholastic year 2023/2024, the Office conducted 15 focus groups in different State, Church and Independent Schools to listen to what children have to say on how children’s rights can be better implemented in Malta. In line with this year’s theme, the Office is launching the report ‘The World According to Children’ which portrays the feedback and recommendations made by children through the focus groups. The Office is also putting forward a number of recommendations for the children’s ideas to be fully implemented.

The Office will also be distributing publications to all children in Year 1, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 and Year 7. These publications aim to create awareness about children’s rights.

A video to celebrate World Children’s Day has also been produced, distributed in all schools and promoted on social media.

We must continue to work together in the best interests of all children so as to ensure that each and every child has access to their rights!