1 June is celebrated – among others in Poland – Children's Day. This date is not identical throughout the planet due to the fact that each country, as proposed by the United Nations, has the chance to choose the day on which it will celebrate this peculiar day. In countries of the erstwhile socialist bloc, specified as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Baltic countries and Russia, the children's feast takes place on the first day of June[1]. This date was proposed in 1949 by the planet Democratic Women's Federation, which considered it to be the best day to realise specified an crucial issue as protecting children from any dangers they might face.[2]. Although this peculiar day is celebrated worldwide on different dates, everyone should be reminded of the fundamental values and rights concerning children, so frequently not observed in different fields.
This day, which is crucial for human rights, is connected with political action, due to the fact that the first kid Day in the Polish People's Republic was organized on the occasion of the Stockholm Appeal. This event, which took place in March 1950, aimed at collecting signatures in support of the russian Union's policy after planet War II. The main intent of the appeal was to call upon all nations of the planet to ban atomic weapons production[3]. 2 years later, Children's Day in Poland was celebrated annually[4]. The 1950s became peculiar for the rights of the kid besides due to the fact that the Declaration of the Rights of the kid was passed by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1959. Then – besides on November 20, but 30 years later – the Convention on the Rights of the kid was adopted. Poland made a major contribution to its uprising, which in 1978 reported the project[5]. The year 1989, which is associated with the deliberations of the circular Table, became a breakthrough year in the context of the rights of the child, precisely due to the abovementioned Convention, which was the first to include in its provisions specified a comprehensive catalogue on the rights and individual freedoms of the child.
Of course, at this point, another paper must not be forgotten – namely that adopted in 1924 by the General Assembly of the League of Nations Declaration of Children's Rights (Geneva Declaration), as a crucial breakthrough in this area[6]. However, this Convention is considered to be the most crucial accomplishment in this area, and for Poland – by creating the task referred to above – is another reason to be proud. It cannot be concluded that erstwhile declarations to the Convention are little valuable or unnecessary. However, it should be noted that the 1989 paper became the first global agreement. This creates a completely fresh and groundbreaking legislative situation in the area of children's rights. In particular, it should be pointed out that the Convention contains provisions which have not previously taken place, in peculiar those relating to the rights and individual freedoms of the child. This changes the legal perception of the child, due to the fact that the kid has been treated personally[7].
Moreover, the Convention obliges the parties to respect and warrant the rights of any child, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, political views, property status, disability, etc. This is to guarantee compliance without discrimination. In addition, States Parties are required to take steps to defend the kid from discrimination[8].
A. Górka-Strzałkowska points to the overarching issues raised in the Convention. Among these, of course, is the kid himself and the subjectivity given to him – as above – but besides many others, specified as paying attention to the specificity of the child's development, which is primarily manifested in his physical and intellectual immaturity, which clearly distinguishes them from an adult, and hence requires more care and care[9].
As regards rights, they can be divided into different categories, taking into account different elements. In general, in the context of the rights in the Convention, the following breakdown is adopted:
– Protection – where the right of all children to life and freedom of expression, opinion, religion and household and individual life is granted;
– Care (Provision) – within the framework of care, the kid has the right to access wellness care, access to education and opportunities for social development;
– Participation (Participation) – giving your kid the right to express their opinions on all their matters and taking their opinions into account their age and degree of maturity[10].
Any provision of the Convention is relevant, given the groundbreaking nature of this global law document. On the occasion of the celebration of Children's Day in Poland, recalling the most crucial findings is an essential component of a prosperous society in the world, in which there are many violations of the rights of the child, manifested in war activities, deficiency of adequate access to education and wellness care.
In 2022 UNICEF published information that indicated that all 4th kid in the planet lives in a humanitarian crisis, very frequently caused by wars. Since 2005, the United Nations has identified 266,000 cases of kid rights violations in 30 armed conflicts. An alarming number besides appeared in killings and mutilations, recruitments to armed groups, abductions and sexual exploitation[11].
planet wars and crises have been a regular life almost since the beginning of mankind. It is impossible to express in words whether to supply precise data on violations of the rights of the kid that have occurred and are taking place. It is so crucial to focus on what is our regular life, with the hope of improving the destiny of children. The following are just examples of kid rights violations in the world.
The Helsinki Human Rights Foundation reported that over 19,000 children from Ukraine were deported to Russia. It was indicated that parents were forced and blackmailed to exchange papers for Russian, separating parents from children who were deprived of the chance to return to their home. In addition, the behaviour of the Russian administration, manifested, among others, in emptying libraries from Ukrainian books[12].
Another example is the situation of children in the Gaza Strip. UNICEF in October 2023 indicated that more than 400 children are killed or injured each day. deficiency of hygiene, food, medicine, force to drink contaminated water is the regular life of the youngest surviving in the area. The life of newborns in incubators depends on mechanical ventilation[13]
It is not news that the most effective weapon to fight against the violation of all rights – and in peculiar human rights, including children – is following the current political situation. Actions not only at national but besides at global level are important. The European Union, which has frequently held key positions in the context of the protection of the rights of the kid at various levels, plays an crucial role. Given its broad spectrum of action, it is so impossible to discuss all their actions over the years. The last period will so be mentioned.
In the age of the net and social media, it is not hard to break the rights of children, frequently without their awareness. In 2022, the European Commission presented a fresh strategy for a better net for children based on 3 pillars:
– safe digital experience to defend children to defend children from inappropriate content;
– digital empowerment, with an educational dimension aimed at acquiring skills, inter alia, in the appropriate expression of its opinion on the Internet, includes parents and teachers in organised campaigns;
– active participation to guarantee greater participation of children in the network[14].
Among the fresh rules of the European Union, there will besides be those aimed at combating and reporting kid sexual content. To this end, in April 2024, the Council of the European Union agreed to temporarily suspend certain provisions relating to e-privacy. net platforms will detect content depicting the sexual abuse of children, study the detected materials and remove them. The fresh rules will apply until April 2026.[15]
Similar actions have besides taken place in American Florida, whose legislature – in February 2024 – adopted a fresh draft bill that assumes no anticipation for people under 16 to establish accounts on at least any social accounts. This is intended to defend intellectual wellness and to prevent attempts at sexual attacks[16].
In addition to legal solutions in the world, there are besides many debates and meetings that discuss ways to prevent or respond to violations of children's rights. 1 of them is the activity of UNICEF, besides present in Poland.
In May 2024, UNICEF Poland organised a seminar, during which representatives of organizations whose statutory objectives are to act for children and to guarantee that their rights are respected, specified as the Foundation We give Children the Force or the Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights and many, many others. During the meeting, actions aimed at protecting children's rights were discussed and the most serious problems related to the youngest in Poland – and consequently – were besides considered about possible solutions[17].
Supporting children in places where their rights are violated can start any of us. Financial support, education, ensuring exile residence are only part of the solution. The organisation that takes specified action is, among others, UNICEF. Among the areas of assistance are, for example, wellness care, repair of water and sanitation, material support and the provision of basic products[18].
Today's planet faces many challenges regarding the rights of children. On the another hand, the basis of well-functioning societies should be the care of the youngest citizens, expressed, among others, in educational campaigns or applicable legislation.
[1]A. Garbatovski, The day of the kid in the museum, "Lednickie Studia", No 9, 2008, p. 341.
[2]M. Pocner, Children's Day – Christmas History, == sync, corrected by elderman == https://wicwatstoryczny.pl/2022/06/01/day-child-history/ [accessed 26.05.2024].
[3]Ibid.
[4]Children's Day – Polish tradition, Information Agency, 30.05.20120, https://agency-information.com/day-child-polska-traditional/ [accessed 20.05.2024].
[5]J. J. Bleszyński, A. Rodkiewicz-Ryżek, Protection of children's rights in the light of Polish and global standards‘Pedagogica Christiana’, No 2, 2012, p. 100, https://repository.umk.pl/bitstream/handle/item/1535/PCH.2012.026%2cBleszynski%2cRodkiewicz-Ryzek.pdf?sequence=1 [accessed 21.05.2024].
[6]M. Dagiel, M. Kowalik-Olubinska, Being a kid in Poland “good change” – between the Convention on the Rights of the kid and reality, “Early Education Problems”, No 4, 2018, p. 115, https://www.academia.edu/102451735/Children's Life_in_Poland_good_change_mi%C4%99between_Convention%C4%85_o_Laws_Children's_actual%C5%9Bci%C4%85?uc-sb-sw=9875233 [accessed 22.05.2024].
[7]A. Chmielecki, On the improvement of children's rights in Poland and the world, Foundation We give Children the Force, Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights, “A kid Hurt. Theory, Research, Practice’, vol 16, nr 2, 2017, pp. 15-16, https://child harmed.fdds.pl/index.php/DK/article/view/629/488 [accessed 22.05.2024].
[8] The Convention on the Rights of the kid adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989 (Journal of Laws 1991 No 120, item 526).
[9]A. Górka-Strzałkowska, Convention on the Rights of the kid – in 30. Anniversary of the adoption of the rights of the child "Problems of Care and Education, No 8, 2020, p. 4 https://problemyocho-wszewaw.pl/resources/html/article/details?id=208207&language=en, [accessed 22.05.2024].
[10]Convention on the Rights of the Child, https://www.barnasattmali.is/en/convention-about-child rights [accessed 22.05.2024].
[11]Children's rights in the planet are inactive violated and violated, UNICEF Poland, 8.06.2022, https://unicef.pl/what-we-make/updates/news/rights-children-in-the-world-still-in-infringed-and-lamane , [accessed 26.05.2024].
[12]19 1000 Ukrainian children "deported" to Russia – we paper war crimes against underage Ukrainian citizens, Helsinki Human Rights Foundation, 01.06.2023, https://hfhr.pl/blog/19-tys-Ukrainian-children-deported-to-Russia-document-criminal-war [accessed 26.05.2024].
[13]A. Khodr, Gaza - Children cannot be targeted by attacksUNICEF, 25.10.2023. https://unicef.pl/what-we-make/updates/news/zone-gases-children-not-can-be-target-attacks [accessed 26.05.2024].
[14]A fresh EU strategy to defend and empower children online, European Commission Press Release, 11.05.201022, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorn/detail/en/ip_22_2825 [accessed 28.05.2024].
[15]A. Borek, Fighting harmful content online. fresh EU rules have been approved, diary of the Legal Gazette, 29.04.2024 , https://www.gasetarawna.pl/news/world/articles/94988883, fight-with-materials-harmful-in-internet-approved-new-rules-u.html [accessed 28.05.2024].
[16]J. Saunders, Florida bill to keep children under 16 off social media moves forward amid debate on government’s role, parental rights, News4Jax, 22.02.2024, https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/022/florida-bill-to-keep-childen-under-16-off-social-media-moves-forward-amide-debate-on-governments-role-parental-rights/ [accessed 28.05.2024].
[17]Children's rights are our precedence – gathering of NGOs, UNICEF Poland, 16.05.201224,
https://unicef.pl/what-we-do/updates/convention/right-child-to-our-priority-meeting-organization-non-government [accessed 28.05.2024].
[18]Help children surviving in conflict zonesUNICEF Poland, https://unicef.pl/wance-help/our-actions/children-in-zones-conflict [accessed 30.05.2024].
Photo: Canva
