Every 20th of November, we commemorate World Children’s Day. At first, this commemoration was named Universal Children’s Day. Then, on the 1959 and 1989 commemorations, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, respectively. Therefore, since 1990, the commemoration has been changed to World Children’s Day and aims to increase awareness on the rights of children, more specifically it aims to commemorate the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Education is an implementation of one of the rights of children according to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, namely “The child must be given the means requisite for its normal development.”
Elio Abdala Ikhsan, a class of 2024 International Undergraduate Program (IUP) student, gave his opinion on education rights for children today, especially in Indonesia. Elio feels that education rights today haven’t been shared equally because he often sees children in his neighbourhood that haven’t had access to education. He thinks that college students have the power to fight for those rights. One way to do it is by increasing the public and the authorities’ awareness on the issue.
Aurelia Anaqi, a class of 2024 International Undergraduate Program (IUP) student, also gave her opinion. Aurel feels that the right to proper education is still unequal today, with many children forced to sacrifice their education for various reasons, such as economic difficulties or limited access. In fact, education has a very large role in shaping the mindset and abilities of children in the future. She said that we can contribute to fighting for the right to education by joining volunteer programs that focus on children’s education, for example acting as a teacher or mentor to educate children who are constrained to go to school.
For World Children’s Day, Elio hopes that issues about children’s rights, especially the right for an education, can be something that is commonly talked about in public. Meanwhile, Aurel hopes that we can give the greatest appreciation to the nation’s children, especially those who do not have proper education by creating opportunities for them and contributing to the fight for their rights.
Hopefully this commemoration can be a reminder for us of the importance of education for the sustainability of children’s lives in the future and can contribute to them being able to access quality education. Happy World Children’s Day! (Ed)