Written by Christine Wincentaylo, General Member
Let's look at the history of children's health with the United Nations.
Before getting started, what is the purpose of the United Nations?
It’s an international organization founded in 1945 that focuses on creating global peace and security, with 193 member states currently part of the organization.
Also, what is children's health?
Children’s health can be defined by children developing and understanding their potential, ability to satisfy their needs and “. . . develop the capacities that allow them to interact successfully with their biological, physical, and social environments” (National Research Council 2004, p.2)
1990
Canada signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child to focus on its efforts to protect children in Canada. Later that year, Canada was a part of the World Summit for Children and worked to establish the improvement of the health and rights of women and children worldwide as Canada's top priority.
2013
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) created a report about children’s rights for the Human Rights Council, which held a full-day discussion on challenges and ideas for achieving this right. Later, the Council requested the OHCHR, and collaboration with the World Health Organization, to develop a guide focused on applying a human rights-based approach to prioritize reducing preventable deaths and illnesses in children under the age of five.
2014
The Human Rights Council requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report about how to apply the human rights-based approach practically and how it would impact policies and programs aimed at reducing preventable deaths and illnesses of children under the age of five.
2017
The Human Rights Council asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide an expert workshop to share strategies for preventing mortality and morbidity in children under five. The workshop was held before the Council's thirty-ninth session and focused on implementing technical guidance, challenges, best practices, and lessons learned concerning children’s health.
2019
The Human Rights Council focused its 2020 annual meeting on the child's rights, specifically "Realizing the Rights of the Child through a Healthy Environment.
This summarizes what the United Nations has been creating for children's health worldwide. This gives you some insight and inspires you to explore children's health in Canada and worldwide more.
If you would like to explore more about the United Nations and children's health, take a look at these resources;
World Children's Day - Every year on November 20th, World Children’s Day is celebrated; take a look at ways to get involved for this upcoming day.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression - Every year on June 4th, shares alarming statistics and different voices from children experiencing this violence.
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence - Every year on November 18th, actions to support helping prevent children from being exploited, and the importance of the day.
World Day Against Child Labour - Every year on June 12th, share the impact of child labor around the world and ways to support action to end child labor.
International Day of the Girl Child - Every year on October 11th, there is a theme, and in 2024, it was “ ‘Girls’ vision for the future.”
Major UN Conferences on Children - Stay current about the different conferences available while learning about the history of the past conferences in 1990 and 2002.
The State of the World's Children - Shares an analysis of global trends impacting children worldwide.
References
Government of Canada (GoC). (2024). Rights of Children. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/rights-children.html
National Research Council (US). (2004). Institute of Medicine (US). Children’s Health, The Nation’s Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Health. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); Children’s Health: A New Conceptual Framework. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92198/
United Nations. (n.d.). About Us. https://www.un.org/en/about-us#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20is%20an,with%20a%20rapidly%20changing%20world
United Nations. (n.d.). Global issues - Children. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/children
United Nations Human Rights Office of The High Commissioner. (n.d.). Children and Health. https://www.ohchr.org/en/children/children-and-health