Backgrounder: Major events in protecting rights, welfare of children
Backgrounder: Major events in protecting rights, welfare of children
09:13, November 20, 2009 
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Xinhua News Agency and other leading world media will provide 24-hour global coverage of Universal Children's Day, which falls on Nov. 20.
The following is a chronology of major events in protecting the rights and welfare of the child since the 1920s.
In 1920, the International Save the Children Union (ISCU) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland. It was one of the earliest international organizations which promoted children's welfare.
On Sept. 26, 1924, the League of Nations adopted the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was drafted by the ISCU.
In December 1946, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was created by the United Nations to provide food, clothing and health care to children. It became a permanent part of the UN in 1953.
In November 1949, the Women's International Democratic Federation council meeting held in Moscow declared June 1 as the International Children's Day to be celebrated annually.
In December 1954, by Resolution 836 (IX), the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children all over the world, and to promote the protection, welfare and education of children.
On Nov. 20, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which recognized rights such as freedom from discrimination and the rights to a name and nationality. It also specifically enshrined children's rights to education, health care and special protection.
In 1973, the International Labor Organization adopted Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, which makes 18 years the minimum age for work that might be hazardous to an individual's health, safety or morals.
The year of 1979 was declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Child in an attempt to raise the profile of children's issues.
On Nov. 20, 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child for signature. It listed children's rights in 54 articles.
On Sept. 2, 1990, the Convention came into force after it was ratified by the required number of nations (20).
In 1990, the World Summit for Children adopted the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children, along with a plan of action for implementing it in the 1990s.
In 1999, the International Labor Organization adopted Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.
At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 world leaders agreed to make joint efforts to reduce the under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, realize universal education by 2015 and eliminate gender disparity by 2005.
In May 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child - Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
In 2000, Sweden's World Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC), honoring those who defend youth rights, was first awarded. It was set up by the Swedish Children's World Association, with millions of children worldwide voting on the winners each year.
In 2002, the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children adopted an outcome document, "A World Fit for Children," which focused on four key priorities: promoting healthy lives, providing education, protecting children against abuse, exploitation and violence, and combating HIV/AIDS.
In July 2005, UNICEF initiated the first "C8 Children's Forum" accompanying the G8 Summit in Gleneagle, UK, with children from the G8 countries and from developing countries. Since then, there has been a Junior 8 Summit accompanying each year's G8 Summit.
In February 2007, at a two-day conference on child soldiers held in Paris, 58 countries agreed for the first time to take steps to prevent children from being recruited as soldiers in conflicts.
In December 2007, the five-year follow-up to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children in 2002 ended with a Declaration on Children adopted by more than 140 governments. The Declaration acknowledges the progress achieved and the challenges that remain, and reaffirms commitment to the World Fit for Children compact, the Convention and its Optional Protocols.
In August 2009, the UN Security Council adopted a landmark resolution to name and shame countries and insurgent groups engaged in conflicts that lead to children being killed, maimed and raped.
Source:Xinhua
The following is a chronology of major events in protecting the rights and welfare of the child since the 1920s.
In 1920, the International Save the Children Union (ISCU) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland. It was one of the earliest international organizations which promoted children's welfare.
On Sept. 26, 1924, the League of Nations adopted the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was drafted by the ISCU.
In December 1946, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was created by the United Nations to provide food, clothing and health care to children. It became a permanent part of the UN in 1953.
In November 1949, the Women's International Democratic Federation council meeting held in Moscow declared June 1 as the International Children's Day to be celebrated annually.
In December 1954, by Resolution 836 (IX), the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children all over the world, and to promote the protection, welfare and education of children.
On Nov. 20, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which recognized rights such as freedom from discrimination and the rights to a name and nationality. It also specifically enshrined children's rights to education, health care and special protection.
In 1973, the International Labor Organization adopted Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, which makes 18 years the minimum age for work that might be hazardous to an individual's health, safety or morals.
The year of 1979 was declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Child in an attempt to raise the profile of children's issues.
On Nov. 20, 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child for signature. It listed children's rights in 54 articles.
On Sept. 2, 1990, the Convention came into force after it was ratified by the required number of nations (20).
In 1990, the World Summit for Children adopted the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children, along with a plan of action for implementing it in the 1990s.
In 1999, the International Labor Organization adopted Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.
At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 world leaders agreed to make joint efforts to reduce the under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, realize universal education by 2015 and eliminate gender disparity by 2005.
In May 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child - Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
In 2000, Sweden's World Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC), honoring those who defend youth rights, was first awarded. It was set up by the Swedish Children's World Association, with millions of children worldwide voting on the winners each year.
In 2002, the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children adopted an outcome document, "A World Fit for Children," which focused on four key priorities: promoting healthy lives, providing education, protecting children against abuse, exploitation and violence, and combating HIV/AIDS.
In July 2005, UNICEF initiated the first "C8 Children's Forum" accompanying the G8 Summit in Gleneagle, UK, with children from the G8 countries and from developing countries. Since then, there has been a Junior 8 Summit accompanying each year's G8 Summit.
In February 2007, at a two-day conference on child soldiers held in Paris, 58 countries agreed for the first time to take steps to prevent children from being recruited as soldiers in conflicts.
In December 2007, the five-year follow-up to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children in 2002 ended with a Declaration on Children adopted by more than 140 governments. The Declaration acknowledges the progress achieved and the challenges that remain, and reaffirms commitment to the World Fit for Children compact, the Convention and its Optional Protocols.
In August 2009, the UN Security Council adopted a landmark resolution to name and shame countries and insurgent groups engaged in conflicts that lead to children being killed, maimed and raped.
Source:Xinhua
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