Last Updated on 15 November 2025 IST: World Children’s Day is observed to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare. The children who are deprived of their basic fundamental rights such as right to food, education and good standard of living are empowered through these international events.
Along with these international events, the ‘Annapurna Muhim’ initiated by Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is becoming global through its life-turning approach and overwhelming success, aiding thousands of helpless children selflessly. Discover how the purpose of World Children’s Day has been effectively fulfilled by Annapurna Muhim of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj in this article.
World Children’s Day 2025: Highlights
- The UN observes World Children’s Day as Universal Children’s Day on November 20 every year.
- World Children’s Day was first founded in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day.
- On this day each year, the UN promotes international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide for children’s welfare.
- Children are the future and this day emphasizes the education of children.
- All parts of society including parents, government, and professionals play an important part relevant for their locality.
- Life-changing Annapurna Muhim by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is providing free food, clothing, education, good healthcare and building homes for thousands of helpless children selflessly, transforming the overall landscape of social welfare for children.
Why Has the UN Agency UNICEF Stepped in for Children?
Post-World War II, the condition of children in Europe was dangerous, and the United Nations’ new agency stepped in to support those children for food, clothing, and health care.
In 1953, as a permanent part of the UN, UNICEF started a campaign worldwide against scarring disease concerning numerous children. In 1959, the UN General Assembly embraced a Declaration of the Rights of the Child for protection, education, health care, shelter, and good nutrition. UNICEF worked for more than a decade by focusing on child health issues. UNICEF grew its area to speak for the needs of the children and their concern regarding education, support for teacher training, and classroom equipment.
What Is the Aim of World Children’s Day?
On this day each year, the United Nations (UN) promotes international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare. UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, encourages and organizes this special day, which also makes efforts towards cultivating children’s welfare.
This World Children’s Day, UNICEF is calling on partners and supporters to share a positive message of equality and inclusion for every child.
World Children’s Day 2025 Theme
The theme for World Children’s Day 2025 is “my day, my rights”. This year marks the 36th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The theme emphasizes the importance of amplifying children’s voices, acknowledging their perspectives, and taking action to uphold their rights globally. UNICEF encourages initiatives like creating platforms for children to express their ideas and priorities to shape a better future.
World Children’s Day 2025 Events
Every year World Children’s Day is observed and is managed by UNICEF through its global reach. The goal is to empower children with basic necessities globally. For this various events are being organised on a global scale:
- UNICEF Kids Takeover: Every year children across the globe are given a platform to express their concerns by giving them high visibility roles in media, politics, business sport and entertainment. This happens every year on November 20th.
- ‘Go Blue’ Campaign: People are encouraged to wear blue to support children on this day. Monuments and landmark buildings also turn blue on this day. This blue is UNICEF’s blue colour (for identification).
- Sub-Regional Commemoration in Botswana: On 15th November, UNICEF Botswana and Government of Botswana are hosting this event. Children from 8 countries will ‘take over’ Botswana Parliament. State of Children Address will also be delivered by young children.
When and Why Is World Children’s Day Celebrated?
The UN observes World Children’s Day as Universal Children’s Day on November 20 every year. World Children’s Day was first established in 1954. On November 20 in the year 1959 the UN General Assembly approved the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. In 1989, on this date the UN General Assembly accepted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, World Children’s Day has been commemorated on November 20 to mark the anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s Declaration and the Convention on children’s rights.
Universal Children’s Day Timeline
- 1920: Children’s Day was first declared a national holiday in Turkey
- 1954: The United Nations formally established Universal Children’s Day
- 1959: The UN General Assembly adopted an extended version of the Declaration of Rights of the Child
- 2012: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations led the initiative for every child to be able to attend school by 2015
What Are UNICEF’s Achievements?
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) is the guiding force for UNICEF. The Convention proved to be the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty. The Convention transformed the way children are regarded and handled as human beings with a definite set of rights rather than mere objects of care and charity. The whole world has shown unprecedented acceptance of the Convention to advance children’s rights. Much has been achieved from falling infant mortality to rising school admission. The convention has much remaining to be performed.
■ Also Read: Children’s Day: Know The Appropriate Way Of Living Every Child Needs To Have
In 1965, UNICEF achieved the Nobel Peace Prize “for the Promotion of brotherhood among nations.” At present, UNICEF is active in more than 190 countries and territories to support the most vulnerable and excluded children.
What Is the Present State of the World’s Children?
Each child must have access to health, education, and protection. Every society should expand children’s opportunities in life. But millions of children in the world are deprived of a reasonable chance due to – birth in a poor country, gender partiality circumstances, or other situations.
- Nearly 385 million children living in extreme poverty – UNICEF study in 2016
- As per a brief noting in 2013, 19.5 percent of children in developing countries (89 countries) live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than US$1.90 a day.
- About 45 per cent of children are living in households subsisting on less than $3.10 a day per person
- In the year 2019, 149 million children under the age of five were underdeveloped worldwide.
- 175 million children could not be admitted in pre-primary education.
- As of 2024, more than 473 million children live in conflict-affected areas.
- Approximately a billion children are punished physically by their caregivers every year.
- Violence takes the lives of approximately 1,30,000 children and adolescents under 20 every year on average.
- The risk of violence varies with the children’s age, vulnerability, gender, disability, poverty, nationality, or religious origin.
- Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of children living in extreme poverty at just under 50 per cent.
- South Asia has the second highest share at nearly 36 per cent.
- 30 percent of extremely poor children live in India alone.
- Four out of five children in extreme poverty live in rural areas in India.
How the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Care for Children?
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) prioritizes many matters affecting the lives of children, young people and their families. There is remarkable progress in decreasing preventable child deaths, more admissions of children in schools, lessening extreme poverty and providing safe water and nutritious food.
There remain many pressing issues including tackling inequalities, economic growth, protecting children from violence and preventing climate change that were not satisfactorily included in the MDGs. In September of 2015, the UN adopted the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and pledged to end poverty by 2030. The UN strives to make serious efforts to tackle the following situations:
- 52 million children may die before reaching their fifth birthday between 2019 and 2030.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 40% of the children are living in extreme poor conditions, the most in any region, as of 2022. (Global Trends in Child Monetary Poverty, World Bank Group).
- Approximately 64 million primary school-aged children remain out of school.
- Approximately 650 million girls and women alive today were married before their 18th birthday.
Why Does the UN System Work for Children?
The United Nations is engaged in improving the state of children in a wide spectrum. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) focuses on education; the International Labour Organisation (ILO) works to abolish child labor, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) run the Children and Youth Program, the World Food Programme (WFP) cares the nutritional work for mothers and young children and the last but not the least the World Health Organization (WHO) campaigns for disease-eradication.
Related Observances
There are a number of observances dedicated to children initiated by the United Nations.
- 4 June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
- 12 June: World Day Against Child Labour
- 12 August: International Youth Day
- 11 October: International Day of the Girl Child
What Can We Do on Children’s Day?
We as, mothers and fathers, educators, health workers, rulers and civil society campaigners, devout and civic elders, corporate tycoons and media authorities, the youth and children themselves, can utilize the November 20 as a day to visualize the children’s future we want to see and the actions necessary to complete their local needs and resources.
World Children’s Day approaches all of us in a stimulating effort to encourage, boost and commemorate children’s rights, discuss priorities and decide upon actions to build a better tomorrow for children.
How Do Schools and Parents Need to Celebrate World Children’s Day?
To observe World Children’s Day at school, teach the students the true purpose of life, morals, ethics and how one should practice the right spiritual wisdom in life. Children should know that due to the lack of a Complete Saint, we have been taking births into numerous animal forms. Now, the spiritual wisdom shared by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj has enabled us to think, act and realise the importance of this rare human birth. People are seeking refuge under Him to attain lasting peace and fulfill life’s true purpose, salvation.
Why World Children’s Day Becomes Significant Amid COVID-19 Pandemic?
World Children’s Day gained heightened significance during the COVID-19 pandemic as the crisis exposed and exacerbated challenges faced by children worldwide. The pandemic disrupted education, leaving millions without access to schools or online learning tools, while also increasing vulnerability to child labor, abuse, and mental health issues.
It highlighted inequalities in access to healthcare, nutrition, and safe environments, especially for marginalized children. Observing this day became essential to advocate for their rights, amplify their voices, and prioritize their needs in recovery plans, ensuring no child is left behind in the journey toward a sustainable and inclusive future.
What Can Be a Real Solution for Children’s Joyful Living?
World Children’s Day is a valuable time to reflect on the true purpose of life and the upbringing of children in alignment with spiritual knowledge. He emphasizes the importance of guiding children on the path of true devotion and fostering their spiritual growth from a young age. Instead of merely focusing on material well-being, the way of living shown by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj has transformed the lives of millions of devotees including children as well physically, mentally and financially.
Moreover, He has also initiated ‘Annapurna Muhim’ which is proving to be a life changer for all those children who are helpless and without the support of any guardian. Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj has been tirelessly working to provide free of cost food, education, clothing, healthcare and shelter to all the helpless families and childrens. The best part of this initiative, which makes it completely unique, is that by the divine grace of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, the monthly household requirements will be provided until the families or children become capable of earning on their own.
True Upbringing
Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj believes that a child’s mind is like a blank slate, making early childhood the perfect time to instill moral values and spiritual wisdom. Teaching children about the importance of compassion, honesty, and devotion can help shape their character and guide them toward a righteous life.
Purpose of Human Life
He teaches that the real purpose of human life, including that of children, is to attain salvation (Moksha) through true knowledge and devotion. By guiding children to understand the reality of life and the existence of the Supreme God Kabir, parents, through the grace of God Kabir, can help them avoid the cycle of birth and death.
Kabir Sahib’s Teachings
Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj often quotes the teachings of Kabir Sahib, Who emphasized the importance of spiritual education over materialistic pursuits. Kabir Sahib’s wisdom highlights that without true devotion, life remains incomplete, regardless of material success. Kabir Saheb has stated:
Kabir, Yeh Maya Atpati, Sab Ghat Aan Adi |
Kis Kis Ku Samjhau, Kuye Bhaang Padi ||
Role of Parents
He stresses that parents have a significant responsibility in providing spiritual guidance. Instead of focusing solely on academic and physical growth, they should prioritize teaching children about scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, and Guru Granth Sahib through the divine discourses of Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj.
True Devotion for a Better Future
On World Children’s Day, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj encourages everyone to remember that true devotion can lead to a peaceful and harmonious society. By introducing children to Sat-Bhakti, we can ensure a future generation that lives in accordance with divine principles, free from the influence of negative vices.
In conclusion, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’s teachings offer a spiritual dimension to World Children’s Day, emphasizing the need for true spiritual education that goes beyond worldly achievements. He advocates that nurturing children with spiritual wisdom is the foundation for a life filled with eternal happiness and ultimate salvation.
The children should be encouraged to adopt the True Devotion (Sat-Bhakti) of Supreme God Kabir. True Devotion starts by taking the Naam Diksha (Initiation) from only Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj – the only Complete Saint of our era. The right way of worship given by Him heals bad karmas and offers salvation with ease to all the pious souls.
For more information read Sacred Book Way of Living and listen to the divine discourses on ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’ YouTube channel.
World Children’s Day Quotes
- “Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.” – Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
- “Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured.” — Jawaharlal Nehru
- “Every child has the right to access Eternal Knowledge to build a better future.” – Jagatguru Rampal Ji Maharaj
- “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged by man.” — Rabindranath Tagore
- “Preach Sat-Gyan to children to know the real purpose of life to lead to Joyful and faultless life.” – Jagatguru Rampal Ji Maharaj
- “The secret of genius is to preserve the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.” – Aldous Huxley
- “We cannot fashion our children after our desires, we must have them and love them as God has given them to us.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- “Salvation is the fundamental right of every child who takes birth on the earth, teach them Sat-Bhakti.” – Jagatguru Rampal Ji Maharaj
- “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” — Margaret Mead
- “Not only mine, every child is special. They deserve God’s grace in everything.”
FAQs on World Children’s Day 2025
The theme for 2025 is “For Every Child, Every Right”. This theme urges people to advocate, observe and promote children’s rights by including every child in a strive for a secure future.
On 20 November 1959, The United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
Blue color is considered a symbol of children’s rights on World Children’s Day.
This day is celebrated in every corner of the world with the aim of creating awareness about the problems of children and for the welfare of children.
Food, clothing, education, healthcare and shelter are the basic rights of every child. Today, only Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj through His Annapurna Muhim are aiding helpless children selflessly with all these basic necessities.
