In conflict zones across the world children are becoming victims of abuse and the UN initiated this awareness to day to bring it to peoples' attention. As an organisation, we work with vulnerable children and young people and we started out with one house that provided a home to asylum seeking children.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is today and we want to add our voice to others who are raising awareness of the suffering of millions of children in areas of conflict.
From the UN website:
It is a sad reality that in situations where armed conflict breaks out, it is the most vulnerable members of societies – namely children, who are most affected by the consequences of war. The six most common violations are recruitment and use of children in war, killing, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
On 19 August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly, “appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression”, decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN's commitment to protect the rights of children. Its work is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.
What can you do?
Please share this post and raise awareness among your contacts. Then follow the link to the UN website above and on the right hand side of the page you'll see links to organisations who are working to help children in these situations. Donate, volunteer, and spread the word about their vital work.