Monrovia, Liberia – President George Manneh Weah has by proclamation declare today, Friday as a working holiday to mark the Day of the African Child throughout Liberia. The African Union Commission (AUC), along with other international partners, will observe the Day with children all throughout the African Continent under the following global theme: “The Rights of Children in the Digital Environment” and the national theme: “Promoting Digital Literacy and Security for Every Liberian Child.”
On that day, black school kids who were protesting Apartheid and promoting equal rights and opportunity were brutally murdered in Soweto, Republic of South Africa.
The Proclamation states that the primary reason for celebrating the Day of the African Child is to honor the hundreds of black schoolchildren who took part in the 1976 Soweto rebellion.
According to Resolution CM/RES.1290 XL, an assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union Commission (AUC), designates June 16 of every year as the “Day of the African Child” in order to draw attention to the issues and create solutions to adequately address the effects on the young African population.
The Proclamation further said that in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Republic of Liberia’s government ratified the Convention in 1992 by a legislative act, which ensures that children are fully protected from all sorts of depravity and abuse.
The Proclamation also stated that an official indoor program will be held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Montserrado County, beginning at 10:00 ante meridian, on Friday, June 16, 2023, in association with her international partners.
The Proclamation consequently requests that all Liberian nationals and foreign residents, national and international youth organizations, as well as concerned government institutions, collaborate with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to organize and carry out appropriate programs appropriate for the event.
