16/06/2025
Happy International Day of the African Child 🤍💙
The Day of the African Child is observed every year on June 16th to honor the memory of the children who were killed or injured during the Soweto Uprising in South Africa in 1976.
On that day, thousands of Black schoolchildren took to the streets to protest against the apartheid regime’s policy of enforcing education in Afrikaans, a language that symbolized oppression. The students demanded their right to be taught in their own languages and to receive a better quality of education. The peaceful protest was met with brutal force: hundreds of children were shot and killed, and many more were injured or arrested.
In 1991, the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) officially designated June 16 as the Day of the African Child, to commemorate those brave children and to draw attention to the challenges faced by African children today, including access to education, child labor, child marriage, abuse, and poverty.
Today, it serves as both a memorial and a call to action, a reminder that every African child deserves freedom, protection, dignity, and a future filled with opportunity.
Today we honor the brave children of the 1976 Soweto Uprising who stood up for their right to education, and paid the ultimate price. Their courage sparked a movement, and their legacy lives on. But the fight isn’t over. Millions of African children still face injustice, poverty, and lack of access to basic rights.
At AJHR, we’re committed to amplifying young voices, protecting children’s rights, and building a future where every child can thrive. We believe every child deserves to be heard, protected, and empowered. On this Day of the African Child, we recommit to fighting for justice, equality, and a future where every child is protected and supported.