CONTEXT:

  • Recently, World day of war orphans was celebrated on 6 January. It is observed to spread awareness regarding the plight of the war orphans and also to address the poor conditions faced by them.

ABOUT WORLD DAY OF WAR ORPHANS:

  • The World Day of War Orphans was started by French organization, SOS Enfants en Detresses.
  • This day highlights the lives of the children who were affected by the war and it aims for the betterment of their future.
  • The theme of 2023 is “Standing Up for War-Affected Children” It is meant to focus global attention on the challenges these children face and how to best meet their needs.
  • The theme for 2022 was “Care for children in a horrible situation is an obligation, especially in the face of a pandemic.”

WHY IT IS CELEBRATED ?

  • The main purpose of observing this day is to spread awareness globally regarding the need to protect the human rights of children orphaned by wars.
  • It also focuses on to generate efforts to secure a better tomorrow for them.
  • The day has grown importance mainly at the time of pandemics as it has the most significant impact on orphan children.
  • The day also reminds us that caring for children in the worst circumstances is a duty of us all, mainly during the coronavirus pandemic.
World Day of War Orphans 2024: Significance
  • In the wars of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, around half of the victims were civilians and this number increased gradually till 2001, as per data by UNICEF.
  • The main aim of this organisation is to protect children from all forms of abuse and mistreatment and a secured future.
  • It also highlighted the suffering and trauma war orphans faces including displacement from their homes, malnourishment and disease.
  • In World War II, around 70% of the victims were civilians and by the end of the 1980s, the number rose to 90%.