International holidays - International Day of the African Child (African Children's Day, International Day of the African Child)

Every year on June 16, the whole world celebrates African Children's Day. The holiday was founded in 1991, when it was first celebrated. The origins of the event were a demonstration by black children in 1976 in the South African settlement of Soweto. The children opposed the educational standards established at that time, trying to defend their native language. The action resulted in numerous casualties as a result of merciless police fire. More than 1,500 thousand people were killed and about 6 thousand innocent children were injured. The brutal reprisal against the rioters lasted until February 1977. The uprising laid the foundation for the war of blacks against the hated government regime. The bloody events of those times forced the whole world to pay attention to the childhood problems of African children. Among the problematic issues of South African youth are hunger, high mortality, sexually transmitted diseases (AIDS), illiteracy, and homelessness. Since 2011, the African Union, together with international public organizations, began to strictly monitor the situation of black children. Close attention is paid to vulnerable segments of the population of the African continent. As preventive measures, various events are held for children, gifts are given, films and educational programs are shown. This small amount of attention allows you to feel the protection and care of adults that African children are deprived of. On African Children's Day, international communities call on the public to participate in the lives of the world's children. To this end, discussions are held to address important issues that can improve the lives of African youth. The African Children's Day carries a sad note. Endless humiliation, deprivation of the opportunity to live in human conditions and with common rights does not allow us to rejoice for African children. The desire to change living conditions and the incorrect way of their usual existence worries the world community.