The Day of the African Child has been celebrated since 1991. This year's motto is " Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children's Rights First " . Politicians must listen to children and consider children's rights in their decisions. Greta Thunberg and her movement for climate protection are a good example that children and young people have the right to fight for their future.

Days of commemoration are days to think about the important issues

Why is the Day of the African Child celebrated on 16 June? Since 1991, this day has commemorated the racial riots in Soweto when apartheid reigned in South Africa. On that day, black students demonstrated that they didn't want to be taught in Afrikaans. Afrikaans was the language of the white ruling class. After all, the black students could not speak Afrikaans and could not follow the lessons. About 10,000 pupils took to the streets. The police tried to stop them and shot into the crowd. Numerous pupils were injured and 575 lost their lives. The best-known victim was 13-year-old Hector Pieterson. Today a memorial in Soweto commemorates his death.

 

Children have rights

The Soweto student uprising marked the end of apartheid. Therefore, the Organization for African Unity has created June 16 as a day of commemoration to celebrate the youth's commitment to a better world. Each year a different theme takes centre stage. Each theme is about improving the  conditions of African children, including the struggle for their rights. This year's motto shall convince politicians that they must first think about children's rights when making decisions.

Angelika and the team of afrika-junior

Fairy tale of the month

 

Read the poem The African Child

 

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Preview: Visit us again, in July we will report about crawling heros in Africa's animal kingdom.