The Day of the
African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was
first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity. It honors those who
participated in the Soweto uprising in 1976 on that day. It also raises
awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to
African children.
In Soweto, South
Africa, on June 16, 1976, about ten thousand black school children marched in a
column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their
education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language.
Hundreds of young students were shot, the most famous of which being Hector
Peterson. More than a hundred people were killed in the protests of the
following two weeks, and more than a thousand were injured.
On June 16th every
year, governments, NGOs, international organisations and other stakeholders
gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization
of the rights of children Africa. For 2014, the theme chosen returns to the
roots of the movement: A child-friendly, quality, free, and compulsory
education for all children in Africa
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