International Day for Street Children

International Day for Street Children is an international holiday designed to raise public awareness about street children. It also aims to unite the efforts of all people to eradicate the problem of homelessness and give these children a better life and hope for a brighter future. It is observed annually on April 12.

History

The problem addressed by the International Day for Street Children has existed for centuries and persists today. Since 1989, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been in force, which includes provisions such as the rights to adequate food, clean water, electricity, freedom, and equality. Unfortunately, street children are deprived of all this, and we must help them.

Some children live on the streets with their parents. However, these are rarer cases, often related to a lack of housing, perhaps lost due to military action or natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. Usually, street children come from low-income families or are children of parents with serious alcohol and drug problems. They spend most of their time on the street, begging for money to feed themselves. Sometimes, closer to bedtime, they return home to sleep.

Authorized agencies deal with such cases, but revoking parental rights and placing such children in orphanages does not solve the problem. It is necessary to rebuild society to prevent the emergence of homelessness.

Interesting Facts

• In today’s world, there are about 150 million children living on the streets globally.
• The highest levels of homelessness and vagrancy are recorded in “second world” countries: poor African nations, Middle Eastern states, and others.

How to Celebrate

Learn more about the problem of homelessness in your country. Provide financial or material assistance to orphanages on this day.

Spread the word about the holiday on social media. Ask users how often they see street children and what country they live in. Suggest your own measures to eradicate the problem.

When is International Day for Street Children in 2025?

International Day for Street Children is observed on April 12 each year.

Observations