12/04/2026
🌍 International Day for Street Children 2026
Theme: “Protect, Not Punish”
Today, we stand in solidarity with millions of children who live and work on the streets—children who are too often misunderstood, stigmatized, and treated as offenders rather than as victims of circumstance.
At Child Survival and Family Development Initiative (CSI), we believe that no child belongs on the street—and no child deserves punishment for simply trying to survive.
Street-connected children face daily risks of abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect. What they need is not harassment or detention, but protection, care, access to education, and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
The theme “Protect, Not Punish” calls on all of us—government, communities, families, and individuals—to:
âś… Uphold the rights and dignity of every child
âś… Strengthen child protection systems and support services
âś… Promote safe reporting and referral mechanisms
âś… Replace criminalization with compassion and action
Through our work with communities and child protection structures, CSI continues to advocate for safe, inclusive environments where every child can thrive.
🧒🏽 Every child deserves protection. Every child deserves a future.
