Child Rights

Commemorative Postage Stamp on Child Rights – Children’s Day 2019

A Joint Initiative by India Post and UNICEF

In 2019, the Department of Posts and UNICEF collaborated to organize a Stamp Design Contest on Child Rights, celebrating Children’s Day with a powerful message on protecting and promoting the rights of every child. This initiative served a dual purpose — to raise awareness about Child Rights and to encourage philately among children.

The collaboration also marked two significant milestones — the 30ᵗʰ Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and 70 years of UNICEF’s presence in India.

Celebrating Childhood through Art and Awareness

The Stamp Design Contest, held from 7 August to 30 September 2019, invited students from Classes I to XII to depict their understanding of child rights through drawings, paintings, or sketches. The winning artworks were later adapted into Commemorative Postage Stamps, a Miniature Sheet, First Day Cover, and Brochure, all released on Children’s Day 2019.

Recognizing Young Talent

To honour the creativity of young participants, the Department of Posts announced eight prizes:

• First Prize (₹50,000): Ms. Nidhi Rahul Mhatre
• Second Prize (₹25,000): Ms. Vibhuani Agarwal
• Third Prize (₹10,000): Ms. Deepali Minda
• Consolation Prizes (₹5,000 each): Master Rupam Mahanty, Ms. Vaidehi Vikas Srikhande, Ms. Arya Thakur, Master Sarvesh Suresh Joshi, and Ms. Kratika Chittoriya

The vibrant designs by these young artists beautifully expressed the ideals of equality, protection, and hope that every child deserves.

A Global Commitment to Every Child

The world’s recognition of child rights has evolved through several historic declarations:

• The Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1924) by the League of Nations, which first outlined a child’s right to nourishment, health care, protection, and shelter.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), recognizing childhood and motherhood as deserving “special protection and assistance.”
• The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959), laying the foundation for the modern understanding of children’s rights.
• Finally, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which remains the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, reaffirming the global commitment to safeguard children’s dignity, survival, protection, and development.

The Four Pillars of Child Rights

The Convention defines Child Rights across four essential categories:

1. Right to Survival:
   The right to life, dignity, adequate food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, and recreation.
2. Right to Protection:
   Safeguarding children from violence, neglect, exploitation, abuse, and harmful environments.
3. Right to Participation:
   Freedom of opinion, expression, and inclusion in decisions that impact their lives and communities.
4. Right to Development:
   Access to quality education, mental and emotional growth, and opportunities to build a sustainable future.

A Message of Hope through Philately

Millions of children worldwide still face deprivation, abuse, and neglect. This philatelic initiative by India Post and UNICEF stands as a creative reminder of society’s shared duty to protect, nurture, and empower every child.

The Commemorative Postage Stamp on Child Rights not only celebrates Children’s Day 2019, but also serves as a symbol of compassion, equality, and awareness — inspiring collective action for a world where every child’s rights are protected and respected.