World Children's Day 2023

Today is World Children’s Day 2023 — UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children. The theme for World Children's Day this year is "Every Child, Every Right".

World Children’s Day has been held annually on 20th November since 1924 and was adopted by the UN in 1958. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness of children’s rights and welfare internationally and celebrate what has been achieved.

20th November also marks the anniversary of the UN General Assembly adopting the Declaration of the Right of the Children in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Children 30 years later in 1989.

Today, we are also celebrating the many milestones achieved within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. This includes the launch of the Children and Young People’s Health Charter and the Cardiff and Vale Youth Board, which launched five years ago today.

Our award-winning Youth Board is made up of young volunteers aged 13-25 from a range of backgrounds and communities across Cardiff and the Vale, each bringing their own experience, knowledge and valued opinions to the table for discussion.

They have been instrumental in the development and design of services, including the development of The Hangout, the design of the clinical environments for Children and Young People's Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Services and paediatric Emergency Unit waiting areas and support on the childhood immunisations programmes.

They have also provided essential expertise, time, and energy to help realise our Children and Young People’s Health Charter — not just as a legal obligation but as a moral obligation, too.

Our Children and Young People’s Health Charter sets out how we work with children, young people and families, how we provide our range of services, and how we ensure those who use the care we provide will be actively involved

Wales has always been at the forefront of embedding Children's Rights into the foundation of Welsh life, by committing it to law in 2011 (The Welsh Measure), by being the first country in the UK to appoint a Children's Commissioner and by being the only country in the world to have a Future Generations Act and Commissioner.

Recently, Cardiff became the first UK city to achieve the UNICEF Child Friendly award. Cardiff City, led by Cardiff Council and partners including Cardiff and Vale UHB, is the first in the UK to achieve the prestigious and globally recognised UNICEF Child Friendly City award. 

Working with the city’s children and young people, Cardiff prioritised six key areas: Cooperation and Leadership; Communication; Culture; Health; Family and Belonging; and Education and Learning. 

To read more, click here.