On World Children's Day, Children in South Sudan call upon adults to listen to them.

Juba, 20 November 2024—On World Children's Day, the children of South Sudan call upon adults to listen to them uninterrupted on issues that affect them, including education, conflict resolutions, healthcare, food, and the climate crisis. These were the findings from a series of boot camp activities and a call to action by children of South Sudan.

World Children's Day on 20 November is UNICEF's global day for children by children.  It marks the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and serves as a call to action for schools, communities, and institutions to engage with and support children.

The 2024 theme for World Children's Day is "Listen to the Future.". UNICEF encourages adults to actively listen to children's hopes, dreams, and visions for the future, promoting children's right to participation. Children should be empowered to voice their opinions about the world they want to live in, and it's the responsibility of adults to listen to and support their visions.

Children's lives are at a crossroads. They face a future of continued, rapid change influenced by climate change, disruptive technology, conflicts, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. Children deserve a safe, liveable future and planet.

The lives and rights of the most vulnerable children hang in the balance as conflicts and gross violations of rights undercut one of the most basic tenets of humanity – that children deserve care and protection no matter the circumstance.

Children’s thoughts and ideas must be taken seriously, and they must be included in decisions impacting them and their future. Through all upheaval, children's rights must always be non-negotiable. Upholding children's rights is the compass to realising a future where children can survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

In South Sudan, Creative Central, under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW) and with support of UNICEF and partners (GREDO and CINA) conducted a series of creative bootcamps in the weeks leading up to World Children’s Day. These events supported talented children to grow and develop skills in creative expression across diverse creative arts - music, poetry, drama, and dancing. These children   now confidently performed alongside South Sudan’s pre-eminent artists on November 20 as we all ‘listen to the future’. A bright and inspiring future.

"As adults and policymakers, it is our responsibility to build confidence and self-esteem in children, so they feel heard and understood; it boosts their confidence. It shows them that their thoughts and ideas are valued. And as adults, it is our responsibility to protect them from harm, abuse and exploitation so they can develop to their full potential," said Hon. Ayaa Benjamin Warille, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.

Additionally, World Children's Day activities included mentorship from experienced journalists and storytellers, focusing on creating compelling human-interest stories. The stories will feature young South Sudanese who make a difference in their communities through innovation, activism, or acts of kindness.

"Children today are best placed to advocate for action and to contribute to solutions that they feel will benefit them. UNICEF is proud to partner with South Sudan's children and provide them with a platform to share their hopes and aspirations. We call upon the government, development partners, and all stakeholders to join hands with us in attentively listening to our children, which helps them to have self-confidence and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It encourages them to think deeply about the world and contribute meaningfully to decisions affecting them." said Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF Representative. "Open dialogue fosters trust between parents and children. It ensures that children feel comfortable coming to you with their dreams, concerns, and ideas," Hamida added.