HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 23: Children and adolescents across Assam and the Northeast transformed World Children’s Day into a movement for their rights, combining digital advocacy with on-ground action to end child marriage, support girls’ education and create safer communities. Anchored by UNICEF’s mandate to ensure that every child survives, learns is protected and participates, the campaign placed young people at the forefront as creators, decision-makers and partners with government and civil society.
The 2025 observance was led by the youth-driven digital storytelling series “My Day, My Rights, My Game”, featuring adolescents from the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL). Using mobile phones, the participants documented their daily lives through video diaries and photo essays, highlighting challenges around education, protection and play. The stories revealed persistent barriers, particularly for girls at risk of early marriage and reached over one million people via social media, amplified by influencers and UNICEF campaigns.
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Dr Madhulika Jonathan, UNICEF Chief for Assam and the Northeast, said, “When children tell their own stories, they shift social norms. Young people from Assam and the Northeast are powerful partners in realising every child’s right to learn, be safe and play.”
Senior leaders across the region reinforced their commitment to children’s rights. Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated the state’s focus on girls’ education and ending child marriage, while Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted collective responsibility for safe and inclusive environments for children. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised the role of youth in shaping policy, calling for investment in every child’s future.
Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu, musician Alobo Naga and actress Kripalaxmi Gurumayum joined the campaign, advocating for child participation, safety and play. Boxers Ankushita Boro and Barbi Gogoi also urged communities to support girls in sports and education, noting the role of extracurricular activities in building confidence and leadership.
The campaign included symbolic initiatives such as the “Vaartalap with Children”, where children assumed the role of Assam Police Director General for a day to discuss cyber safety, school safety and protection of girls, fostering institutional trust and collaboration. In addition, 45 landmark buildings across Assam and Meghalaya were lit up in blue to signify solidarity with children’s rights.
High-level interventions also included a proposal by Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar to establish a dedicated Juvenile Justice Secretariat for the Northeast, aimed at accelerating child-friendly judicial processes and strengthening implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act.
UNICEF affirmed that these initiatives mark a step toward building a Northeast that champions child participation and youth leadership. “Together, we are building a region where every child can confidently say: My day, My rights, My game,” the agency stated.
