Arabic version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to be launched November 20

AMMAN — The National Council for Family Affairs and UNICEF will be launching the first-ever child friendly Arabic version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on November 20, at an event which will see the participation of over 2,000 children and adults, a statement from the UN agency said. 

A more comprehensive handbook for adults including the official CRC document and the Sustainable Development Goals in Arabic will also be disseminated at the event. 

UNICEF has started planning for World Children’s Day, marked annually on November 20 to celebrate the day the Convention on the Rights of the Child — an agreement by member countries of the UN including Jordan, to do everything possible for the best interest of all children, came into effect in 1989, according to the statement.  

Since 1989, more countries have ratified the convention than any other human rights treaty in history, with 192 countries being state parties to the CRC.

This year’s World Children’s Day will see the addition of a children’s “take over” moment. Children and young people have been meeting high profile and influential people from all over the world, and sharing with them what they would do for children if they were to become that personality for one day, the statement said. 

People from all walks of life in Jordan, including ministers, diplomats, TV and radio personalities, private company CEOs and directors, music and sports achievers and the UN have started meeting children and youth and hearing their opinions and suggestions for the development and wellbeing of all children in the Kingdom. 

The World Children’s Day, which will be observed globally, is an occasion to underscore the progress made over the past decades and build on it to ensure equal opportunity to education, health, safety and participation for every child, the statement said.