The date for celebrating Children’s Day in Ukraine has been changed: from now on, this holiday will take place on November 20 each year, instead of the traditional June 1. The corresponding decree was signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Reasons for the Change of Children’s Day
According to the new decree, the main goal of changing the date is to recognize childhood as a national priority and to strengthen the efforts of the international community to protect children’s rights. As stated in the official document, Children’s Day will now be celebrated together with Universal Children’s Day, which falls on November 20 each year.
“In order to establish the protection of childhood as a national priority for Ukraine, to strengthen and unite the efforts of the international community aimed at protecting the rights and best interests of the child, and to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, I decree: to establish in Ukraine Children’s Day, to be celebrated annually on Universal Children’s Day – November 20.”
Historical Context and International Practice
Previously, Children’s Day in Ukraine was celebrated on June 1 according to a presidential decree from 1998. However, this tradition was primarily characteristic of socialist countries and did not gain widespread international recognition. From now on, this decree is no longer in effect.
The president’s press service explained that November 20 is a symbolic date for the protection of children’s rights worldwide, as it was on this day in 1959 that the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted, and in 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, November 20 was established as Universal Children’s Day by a resolution of the UN General Assembly in 1954.
The new decree comes into effect upon its publication, and from this time forward, Ukraine joins the international practice of celebrating Children’s Day in November.