November is a month when everyone turn their attention to children and their rights. On the occasion, on Sunday evening (19 November), the red illumination of Litewski Square will conclude “19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Violence and Abuse Against Children and Youth”. On the next day, Monday (20 November), to celebrate the Polish Children’s Rights Day the illuminations will turn blue. The black poplar, so called Baobab, chestnut trees and fountains will be illuminated with colourful lights starting from 4:00 p.m.
In November, there are two celebrations devoted to children and their rights. Each year, during the initial 19 days of November, a global campaign is held to counteract violence, and its finale is the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on 19 November.
“It is a very important initiative to us, particularly in the year when Lublin is the European Youth Capital. Our care for children and youth, and for their safety, should guide all our actions,” said Beata Stepaniuk-Kuśmierzak, Deputy Mayor of Lublin for Culture, Sports and Participation, Mayor's Plenipotentiary for the European Youth Capital..
In Lublin, this year's celebrations were initiated by the Empowering Children Foundation in collaboration with the Sempre a Frente Foundation which has been helping children grow for 13 years now and running the Child Advocacy Centre in Lublin since 2022, supporting the protection of young people against violence and sexual abuse. During that time, they received 326 reports of abuse against children and youth and provided nearly 2 000 hours of individual psychological counselling sessions. On 19 November, the Foundation is joining the “Childhood without Violence” campaign aimed at boosting social readiness to respond in situations when a child experiences violence.
In turn,20 November marks the World Children’s Day and the Polish Children's Rights Day. On that day, the special illuminations in Lublin will appear on the initiative of UNICEF. The date commemorates the adoption of the most important document guaranteeing rights to all children - the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
