I am a Child. I am a Human

A thematic exhibition “I am a Child. I am a Human" dedicated to World Children's Day is on show in the Documents of International Organizations Reading Room (room 207g) from November 11 to December 5.

This Day was announced in 1954 by a decision of the UN General Assembly (Resolution 836 (IX)) and is celebrated annually on November 20. The date for the celebration was not chosen by chance. On this day in 1959, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and in 1989 – the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children are a significant part of the world's population. According to official statistics, they make up 20-25% of the population in any one state. Every child has the right to be provided with health care, education and protection. The future of any country depends directly on the well-being of children and the opportunities for development that they will have. Sadly, millions of children around the world are denied the opportunity to become productive members of society.

In many countries, children lack the basic facilities for a normal life: they starve, get sick, live in unsanitary conditions, have no access to education and are subjected to violence and exploitation. Many children are abducted, falling into the trap of sexual slavery. Physical violence against a child as punishment has not yet been eradicated in some regions of the world.

According to the UN, one in five children in the world lives in extreme poverty. Nearly a billion people on the planet live on less than $1.90 per day, and half of them are children. Eleven million children die before their fifth birthday every year, and tens of millions more remain physically or mentally ill, unable to grow, live and develop.

World Children's Day is an excellent opportunity to defend children's rights and promote a child-friendly environment for children around the world. The main objective of the day is to raise public awareness of the need for dialogue and action to respect the rights of children and protect them from violence, hunger and disease.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) promotes and protects the rights to a safe, healthy and happy childhood. UNICEF carries out programmes around the world to promote the health and development of every child, fight discrimination, run charity and awareness campaigns, and help children and families affected by emergencies and natural disasters.

The Republic of Belarus has been a member of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) since 1953. In 1997, the UNICEF Office in Belarus was opened in Minsk. The cooperation with the Fund is based on a country programme for Belarus 2021–2025 with a total budget of almost $15 million.

In our country, the care for children is one of the state's priorities. Belarus ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, and the Law on the Rights of the Child was adopted on 19 November 1993. These documents can be viewed at the proposed exhibition.

The exhibition presents more than 100 documents in Russian and English. Among them are periodicals, mimeographed materials of UN, brochures.

The exhibition consists of the following sections:

International protection of the rights of the child. UNICEF activities
Psychology of family relationships, family education
Protection of the rights and interests of children in the Republic of Belarus
Promoting healthy lifestyles for children
Ensuring a quality education for every child
Protecting children from abuse, exploitation and violence

The exhibition is intended for teachers, lawyers, sociologists, education, health and culture professionals, and anyone else who cares about the future of our children.

Related links:

• Universal Children's Day, 20 November
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• Global issues on the agenda: children

• Children and armed conflict

Committee on the Rights of the Child
UN Special Rapporteur on sale the and sexual exploitation of children

International Labour Organization (ILO)

• Action against child labour
• International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Education

World Health Organisation (WHO)

• Child development
• Child health
• Child abuse

• Early pregnancy
• Child marriages

• Eliminating new HIV infections among children

Documents

Declaration of the Commemorative High-level Plenary Meeting devoted to the Follow-up to the Outcome of the Special Session on Children (13 December 2007)
Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (22 July 2005)
Declaration and the Plan of Action "A World Fit for Children" (10 May 2002)
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (25 May 2000)
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (25 May 2000)
The Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (convention 182) (1 June 1999)
United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines) (14 December 1990)
UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child (20 November 1989)
Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with special reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally (3 December 1986)
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice ("The Beijing Rules") (November 29, 1985)
Declaration of the Rights of the Child (20 November 1959)

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by the library card or by the Social and Cultural Centre ticket.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 34.

Official Documents Service Department