World Day of War Orphans: Theme, History, Significance
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World Day of War Orphans [6th January]
World Day of War Orphans is observed on 6th January every year to acknowledge the plight of children orphaned due to war or other conflicts. Wars, invasions, and other military conflicts cause many children to lose their parents. World Day of War Orphans is an attempt to highlight the problems that such orphaned children face.
World Day of War Orphans was founded by the French establishment, SOS Enfants en Detresses. We have shared the details about the theme, history, and significance of War Orphans Day here.
World Day of War Orphans
World Day of War Orphans is a day dedicated to acknowledging the hardships that children who lost their parents to wars face. In 2015, there were 140 million orphaned children who lost their parents to wars. War Orphans Day is an attempt to highlight the struggle of orphaned children to demand better living conditions for them.
Each year, millions of children lose their parents in conflict zones, and end up orphan. These children struggle not only to feed themselves and survive, but also to not fall in exploitation. Here, we have shared a brief overview of World Day for War Orphans –
War Orphans Day: History
The history of World Day of War Orphans can be traced back to when the French organisation, SOS Enfants en Dresses, established the day. The aim of the day was to help children affected in major conflict zones of the world, with a focus on children who lost their parents.
World War Orphan Day provides a chance for global communities to address the dire state of war orphans. It is also focused on highlighting this humanitarian and societal disaster that is only worsening.
World Day for War Orphans: Significance
Children are the most vulnerable members of society, bearing the burden of global crises and conflicts. One major conflict that children face is losing their parents at an untimely age due to wars and other military situations. World Day of War Orphans is a day to raise awareness about this issue and demand better provisions for such children. Here is why this day is considered significant –
- Orphaned youngsters make up a disproportionate number of child soldiers.
- It is easier to persuade them if you supply shelter and food while also appealing to their need to belong to a community.
- War orphans recruited as child soldiers face the risk of engaging in criminal activity, substance misuse, crippling, and social isolation.
- Human traffickers, organ and prostitution mafias, begging gangs, and missionary organisations exploit war orphans.
- War orphans are most prevalent in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Also, they are becoming more common in the bloody battlefields of today, increasing the relevance of the World Day of War Orphans.
War Orphans Day: Challenges Faced by War Orphans
World Day of War Orphans recognizes the difficulties faced by orphaned children in conflict-ridden zonnes. Children who have lost one or both parents due to war, invasion, and violence are powerless and alone. Here are some of the challenges that such children face –
- Human trafficking
- Forced adoption
- Recruitment as child soldiers
- Child labour
- Organ mafia
- Prostitution
- Begging gangs
- Substance abuse
Q. When is World Day of War Orphans observed?
World Day of War Orphans is observed on 6th January every year. The French organization, SOS Enfants en Detresses, established the day on 6th January to highlight the plight of children who lose their parents in conflict zones, and end up living up a life in exploitation.
Q. Why do we celebrate World Day of War Orphans?
World Day of War Orphans invites the attention of the global community to the plight of children who have lost both parents as a result of a conflict. War Orphans Day acknowledges how vulnerable and disadvantaged such children are and how they are exploited in the society.
Q. Who established the World Day of War Orphans?
SOS Enfants en Detresses, a French organisation, established the World Day of War Orphans. This day is celebrated every year on 6th January to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children who are orphaned in conflict-ridden zones of the world.
Q. What message does the World Day of War Orphans give to the international community?
The message that the World Day of War Orphans gives to the community is that every kid has the right to life, education, healthcare, a safe environment, and safety from physical and psychological harm. The international community is accountable for ensuring the preservation and upholding of the fundamental rights of children.