International Day for Street Children: Louder Together

The first International Day for Street Children is being launched on April 12, 2011, by the Consortium for Street Children.

The International Day for Street Children: Louder Together is launched on 12th April, a new campaign to give a louder voice to the millions of street children around the world so their rights cannot be ignored. The campaign is being supported by Aviva, the world sixth largest insurance group.

The International Day aims to give street children a voice and the same opportunities as all children as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: the right to protection, participation, provision and prevention from harm.

Street children are those who sleep and/or work on the streets, or spend a significant amount of time on the streets. They are some of the most vulnerable and marginalised children in the world, falling through the gaps of state policy and practice.

Street children are often invisible and unable to voice their opinions and concerns to those who could make a real difference to their lives. It is up to all of us to help them: together our voices are louder.

The campaign is being led by the Consortium for Street Children (CSC), which has more than 60 members worldwide, including Save the Children, International Childcare Trust, Amnesty International, Street Child Africa and the Railway Children.

Working on behalf of street children in over 130 countries, CSC provides the vital link between street children and policy makers.

CSC is leading key changes for street children in 2011 including supporting the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on street children which was passed in March - the first since 1994, and the Day of the African Child in June.