World Children's Day 2020: Govts urged to ensure children continue learning amid COVID-19

WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY 

Governments across the world have been urged to ensure that children continue learning despite the continued threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

The United Nations (UN) made the call Friday as countries across the world celebrated World Children's Day 2020. 

"Hundreds of millions of students are currently affected by school closures due to #COVID19. On Friday's #WorldChildrensDay, @UNICEF is urging countries to ensure all children can continue to learn," the UN said in a tweet. 

In Uganda, the nationwide school closures in March 2020 disrupted the learning of more than 15 million children, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Uganda 

"The COVID-19 pandemic has created extraordinary disruption to all sectors, but the education sector has been affected vastly."  

"School children from the poorest households, those living in rural areas, children with disabilities and girls have been affected more, bringing out huge inequalities in access to learning and its outcomes," said UNICEF Uganda in a statement. 

It added that many children relied on meals provided at school, but this too is no more, greatly affecting their nutrition status.  

"Since the pandemic was declared, everything has ceased to be ‘normal'." 

In Uganda, UNICEF is mobilising partners and planning a series of events under the theme ‘Reimagining the Future of Learning.'  

UNICEF Uganda is to raise awareness, amplify the voices of young people speaking out on the impact of COVID-19 on education, and highlight possible solutions, to commemorate the day.   

"The costs of the pandemic for children are immediate and, if unaddressed, may last a lifetime.  It's time for generations to come together to reimagine the type of world we want to create," said UNICEF in a statement. 

About World Children's Day 2020 

World Children's Day is UNICEF's annual day of action for children, by children. It is celebrated annually on November 20.  

World Children's Day was first celebrated in 1954 as Universal Children's Day to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, and for improving children's welfare. 

In 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child on November 20.  

In 1989, the UN General assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on this date. 

Since 1990, World Children's Day marks the anniversary of the date when the UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration and Convention on children's rights. 

World Children's Day is the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that explains who children are, all their rights, and the responsibilities of governments.  

It also aims at highlighting critical issues affecting children's lives as well as support the engagement of children and young people as advocates for their own rights. 

Celebration in Uganda that was to happen today was postponed to next week.