Backgrounder: International Children's Day and Universal Children's Day

International Children's Day and Universal Children's Day are two main children's days celebrated around the world. International Children's Day is celebrated on June 1 each year and Universal Children's Day falls on Nov. 20.

Although they are observed on different dates, the two holidays are both designed to promote the protection of children's rights and the welfare of children worldwide.

The following are brief introductions to the two holidays:

International Children's Day was initiated by the Women's International Democratic Federation during their council meeting in Moscow in November 1949, in remembrance of those children killed by notorious German Nazis during World War II. At the meeting, June 1 was decided officially as International Children's Day with the aim of raising the general awareness of the importance of the protection, education, health and welfare of children.

Universal Children's Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly. In Resolution 836 (IX) in December 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries institute Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and also a day of activity devoted to promoting the protection, welfare and education of the children of the world.

The date of Nov. 20 also marks the anniversary of the day when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

Source:Xinhua