On November 20th of each year, the international community celebrates the world Children’s Day based on the recommendation issued by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954. The recommendation has stated that all countries should establish an International Children’s Day that will be celebrated as a day of fraternity and understanding on a global scale among children.

To illustrate, the world celebrates this day to enhance the role of the child in society and to preserve his rights which are represented in equality and non-discrimination in terms of religion, ethnicity, ideas and beliefs for children all over the world.

On this occasion, the Chairman of the National Society for Human Rights, Mr. Khalid bin Abdul Rahman Al-Fakhri, has said that there are many rights stipulated by the regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as the Child Protection Law, which is concerned with protecting every person under the age of eighteen. The Law confronts abuse and neglect which the child may be exposed to in the surrounding environment and it also contributes to provide a safe environment for the child without facing any difficulties. This matter requires understanding what is going on in the minds of children through the discussions that can build and develop the child’s ideas.

Al-Fakhri has also explained that there are some practices that all those who deal with children should be aware of falling into them because they are considered as harm or neglect against the child, including causing interruption of his education, mistreatment, harassment or exploitation, using abusive words that degrade his dignity, discrimination against him for any ethnic, social or economic reason or bullying him.

In addition, the Chairman of the Society has stressed on the importance of spreading awareness of children’s rights in a manner that simulates their minds and ages, in a way that contributes to children’s knowledge of these rights, with the importance of focusing on monitoring and addressing any violations against them. He has also stressed on the importance of the National Framework for Child Online Safety, which was recently launched in the Kingdom and hoped that it would achieve its goals for children’s safety online.

Finally, the Chairman of the National Society for Human Rights has concluded his speech by saying that there is no doubt that the existence of a special system for children in the Kingdom has contributed in preserving and maintaining children’s rights. He has also said that this matter requires the relevant executive authorities and civil society institutions to intensify awareness programs directed to children and their clients in order to clarify wrong practices towards children and ways to address them, which contributes to their upbringing in a safe and healthy environment.

The National Society for Human Rights