International Children’s Day and Covid-19

This year, the World Children’s Day must be celebrated virtually owing to the COVID-19, which could mean its significance is overlooked. World Children’s Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.

The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a child rights crisis.

The costs of the pandemic for children are immediate and, if unaddressed, may last a lifetime. The pandemic has also impacted the lives of billions of children all over the world and has created a massive disruption in education. The pandemic has also led to a significant increase in the number of children living in multidimensional poverty, which means that they lack access to fundamental resources such as education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation and water.

On the other hand, with the vaccination drive for the children remaining undecided yet, the scientists should accelerate their research and come out with their recommendations. Otherwise, the future of the world would be at stake.

We cannot let children be ignored because they are our prospects and the ones who decide the future. Hence, the whole world should come together as we celebrate the International Children’s Day to create platform where children can overcome the challenges faced by them during this pandemic period.

Against this backdrop, here are some points which help us give space for children to grow and teach them something worthwhile.

1. Children are knowledgeable

Western beliefs about childhood are often focused on preserving innocence, and are also embedded with exclusionary classist and racist assumptions. These assumptions serve to insinuate that “knowing” children (children in poverty, homeless children, those who have experienced trauma) aren’t entitled to innocence.

Although parents may wish to protect children from difficult realities so that they won’t feel sad or afraid, doing so reinforces the idea that children shouldn’t know things.

And yet, perhaps now more than ever, children know and understand so much about our world, and are eager to share. One great example is UNICEF’S recent Learn With Me video series, which features children from all over the world describing their experiences during quarantine and sharing their tips for learning new skills. When we pay attention to what children know, we honour them as important contributors to our community, our society and our world.

2. Children are experienced

Attempting to preserve childhood innocence also means protecting children from difficult experiences. But as COVID-19 has certainly shown us, children are not exempt from adversity and need to be able to talk about what they’re going through. UNICEF provides a series of video diaries that show how children globally are coping with the impacts of the coronavirus.

These videos provide insight into the impacts of lockdowns, school closures and physical distancing. Although it can be difficult for adults to accept that children are struggling with fear or grief, acknowledging and talking about these challenges helps us see children as individuals with unique experiences.

3. Children are capable

When we acknowledge children’s knowledge and experiences, we recognize their important contributions to our families, our communities and our society. This year has provided many examples of children’s abilities to promote change, act responsibly and protect the wellbeing of others.

Children have been essential partners in fighting the spread of COVID-19. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has often addressed children directly, calling on them to do their part.

This year, children have also offered inspiring examples of their engagement and leadership in protest and activism, such as eightyear-old Nolan Davis of Missouri, who organized a Black Lives Matter march for kids.

These examples remind us that children are capable. If our entire society recognizes children as competent, they might be embraced as valued members of our society.

This year has shown us that children are not, as they are often depicted, naïve, inexperienced or helpless. More than ever, as cultural historian Robin Bernstein writes, “it’s time to create language that values justice over innocence.” As Bernstein explains, “All children deserve equal protection under the law not because they’re innocent, but because they’re people.”

In the same way, children deserve to be acknowledged as knowing, experienced and capable human beings. Adults can honour that right by inviting children into conversations, listening to what they have to say and taking their thoughts and feelings seriously. Rethinking childhood through a justice lens acknowledges children as fundamental to our world, not simply for what they might become, but who they are and what they can do, right now.