Some children can’t go to school because it’s not safe or allowed.
Some children drink water that can make them sick because it’s all they have.
Some children work long hours so their families can eat.
Some children don’t get to share their ideas or make choices.
These are realities that most children in wealthier countries, like ours, rarely face. Globally, however, millions of kids grow up without basic protections. World Children’s Day is a chance not only to celebrate what children have, but also to stand up for kids who don’t.
In Canada, November 20th is called National Child Day. Though it is the same day celebrated around the world as the UN’s World Children’s Day, the national focus reminds us of our duty to honour children’s rights here at home and to lead by example in protecting and nurturing their well-being.
What It Is and Why It Matters
World Children’s Day marks two major milestones in children’s rights history:
- 1959 The Declaration of the Rights of the Child
- This was the first global agreement recognizing that children need special care and protection.
- 1989 The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- This is the most widely accepted human rights treaty in history. Every country in the world except one has promised to uphold it. The CRC defines what every child needs to grow up safe, healthy, and able to reach their full potential.
Both of these landmark documents were created and approved by the United Nations (UN), which:
- Provided the forum for discussion
- Drafted the agreements
- Secured global support
- Continues to monitor how countries uphold children’s rights today
What Are Children’s Rights?
The CRC contains 54 articles (sections of the agreement), 42 of which outline specific rights for children. These rights can be grouped into four key categories:
SURVIVAL RIGHTS
- Life itself
- Basic needs: clean water, nutritious food, shelter
- Health and access to healthcare
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
- Education
- Play and leisure
- Access to information
- Cultural activities
- Support for physical, emotional, and mental growth
PROTECTION RIGHTS
- Protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Protection from war, trafficking, and hazardous work
- Special care for vulnerable children, including refugees, children with disabilities, and those separated from families
PARTICIPATION RIGHTS
- Freedom to express opinions
- Freedom of thought, expression, and religion
- Being heard in matters that affect them
Learning about these differences can build empathy, gratitude, and a sense of global responsibility, without guilt or fear.
Equitas and World Children’s Day Workshops
EQUITAS is a human rights education organization that works to advance equality, social justice, and respect for human dignity. They run transformative programs across Canada and around the world, partnering with over 200 organizations in more than 55 communities.
To help our students learn about World Children’s Day, a team of Equitas educators is visiting Brantford to lead bilingual workshops with all our classes. Students will participate in activities designed to make children’s rights tangible and memorable.
One of the highlights is a game called Draw It Right:
- Students take turns drawing children’s rights while teammates guess them, similar to Pictionary.
- Rights like “the right to education,” “the right to play,” or “the right to express opinions” are conveyed visually, encouraging creativity and teamwork.
- The game helps students understand the variety of rights children are entitled to under the CRC, sparks discussion about why these rights matter, and encourages reflection on how to respect and promote them in everyday life.
To conclude, students will write letters to Prime Minister Carney about the issues that matter most to them and their communities. This gives children a chance to have their voices heard and see that their ideas can make a difference.
The United States and the CRC
If you’re wondering which country hasn’t fully committed to the CRC:
The United States signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, signaling support in principle, but has not ratified it through Congress. Ratification is the formal process of agreeing to be legally bound by a treaty (an official agreement between countries) under international law.
All other 196 UN member states have ratified the CRC, making the U.S. unique as the only country that has not legally bound itself to the treaty. Ratification has stalled due to concerns about how the treaty might affect domestic law, parental authority, and international oversight of policies affecting children.
Why This Matters to Us
Even in wealthy countries, learning about children’s rights helps kids:
- Appreciate their own opportunities
- Understand the challenges others face
- Develop empathy and a sense of fairness
- Take action to support others, locally and globally
