The Slovenian Friends of Youth Association has organised Children’s Week every year since 1954, and it is now traditionally held starting on the first Monday in October, which we celebrate as Children’s Day. More than sixty years ago, the United Nations called on all nations to set aside a special day dedicated to the importance of the welfare of children. This year marks the passing of thirty years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and therefore children’s rights was the central theme of this year’s Children’s Week. Throughout the week, the association and local friends of youth societies organise various leisure-time and recreational activities for children in all of the larger towns throughout the country, and it is also celebrated at kindergartens and schools.

At the beginning of Children’s Week, Prime Minister Marjan Šarec met with UNICEF youth ambassadors, who presented him with more than 3,500 postcards stating “Children Expect Action” as part of the “The Majority Expect Action” campaign. The children wrote on the postcards what they expect from the prime minister for a better future. The prime minister acknowledged the active role of youth and promised to continue to improve the dialogue among all stakeholders regarding climate change, sustainable development objectives and the challenges associated with new technologies.