f638a7b119736b29d0aeeb8058cb5416International Day of the African Child takes place on June 16, 2016. The Day of the African Child has been celebrated every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity. It honors those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day. It also raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.

In Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976, about ten thousand black school children marched in a column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young students were shot, the most famous of which being Hector Peterson. More than a hundred people were killed in the protests of the following two weeks, and more than a thousand were injured.

Source: With material from: Wikipedia, text has been taken from www.cute-calendar.com  Image: www.pinterest.com

The Day of the African Child further presents an opportunity for nations to focus on the rights of children on the continent, to consolidate their efforts in addressing the obstacles for realising these rights. The day also provides an occasion for Governments, International Institutions and Communities to renew their on-going commitments towards improving the plight of children by organising activities in which children feel included.

Every year a theme is identified. The theme of this year is dedicated to ending child marriage on the continent, “25 Years after the Adoption of the African Children’s Charter: Accelerating our Collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa.”

Source: Text: Vatican Radio