Implemented by the United Nations in 1954, it recommended that the Day was to be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. World Scouting, a global movement devoted to the youth of the world, recognises this day as the opportunity to draw attention to their rights and needs for today and for the future.

The Organization is heavily involved in various projects in partnership with UN agencies like UNICEF and the Millennium Campaign. Most recently, World Scouting worked closely with UNICEF on the World Report on Violence against Children. This report and its supporting materials deal with the important issue of violence agaisnt children, and the ideas for action that can be taken to prevent it and respond to it. WOSM was especially involved in contributing to the activity guide, and case-study based stories have been included, featuring Scout projects from Egypt, Namibia, and El Salvador. A representative of World Scouting was part of the writing group and Scouts participated in field testing the materials.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015- stands at the forefront of the work Scouts around the world are doing on a daily basis. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children. UNICEF notes that six of the eight goals relate directly to children and meeting the last two will also make critical improvements in their lives. World Scouting, through their programmes like Youth of the World, and their Memorandum of Understanding with the Millennium Campaign, is dedicated to working towards achieving these Goals, and supports children not only today, but everyday.

You can read more about how World Scouting is addressing the needs of young people today, in the World Scouting Report.

www.millenniumcampaign.org/
www.youthoftheworld.net/
www.unicef.org
www.unviolencestudy.org