Today marks the International Day of the Rights of the Child, and this year is the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly.
It is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world and guarantees that children have a right to a good life, to protection and development and that their best interests are respected.
“Every child deserves a safe and good childhood and my government is on the side of the children in Finland, Europe and globally” says Prime Minister Antti Rinne (SDP).
Meanwhile Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) highlighted a global problem that also impacts children in a Twitter message.
“Children are the most affected by the effects of climate change - extreme weather events, food shortages and diseases. Combating climate change is also about defending children’s rights” says Haavisto.
In Finland the Ministry of Interior has ordered government buildings to fly the Finnish flag to mark the occasion, and encouraged the flag to be flown more generally elsewhere in the country.
