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World Children's Day 2025: Celebrate children's rights in the Rheinauhafen!
On September 20, 2025, the 34th games festival for World Children's Day will take place at Rheinauhafen, with a focus on children's rights and democracy.
World Children's Day 2025: Celebrate children's rights in the Rheinauhafen!
On September 20, 2025, Cologne will be the venue for the 34th games festival on the occasion of World Children's Day. Under the motto “Children’s Rights – Building Blocks for Democracy” the focus is on the rights of children. The venue is the picturesque Rheinauhafen, where two stages, including the “Make Children Strong” stage of the Federal Institute for Public Health, will ensure a varied program. The Cologne band Cat Ballou will act as an ambassador for the event and numerous stands and games from clubs, institutions and organizations will also be part of the festival. The stands will extend all the way to Harry-Blum-Platz and promise a lot of fun for the little visitors.
The event clearly commits to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the local level. Cologne is proud to be the first city in Germany with over a million inhabitants to bear the “Child-Friendly Municipality” seal. All children here have the same, internationally guaranteed rights, and the event is designed to be barrier-free and inclusive. The main sponsor is DEVK Insurance, which provides significant support for the event.
World Children's Day - A call for active participation
Loud UNICEF and the German Children's Fund, over 1,000 children and young people are calling for the full implementation of the rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on this day. Particular emphasis is placed on the active participation of children and young people in political decision-making processes. “Children’s rights must be anchored in the Basic Law,” was the unanimous opinion of the organizers, who also pointed out the need for measures to combat child poverty and to expand participation rights.
At the same time, a “House of Children's Rights” will be presented at the Brandenburg Gate, which is designed with building blocks made up of over 1,000 demands from young people. This creative installation symbolizes a child-friendly vision of the future and is supported by, among others, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Berlin. Anja Siegesmund from the German Children's Fund also calls for democracy education to be more firmly anchored in educational institutions for all age groups.
Focus on children’s rights – significance and current challenges
The global situation is not unknown. Challenges such as social cohesion, digital living environments and crises pose a threat to children's future prospects. The German Children's Fund points out that cuts in humanitarian aid and development cooperation are also further deteriorating the living conditions of children worldwide. Children also express their wishes for a child-friendly future in creative workshops. These range from safe accommodation for refugee children to better schools.
Dr. Petra Bahr, State Secretary, and Dagmar Wöhrl, Ambassador of UNICEF Germany, also emphasized the importance of children's rights for a vibrant democracy. A stirring day is approaching, and UNICEF Germany invites all families to become active and express their wishes for a child-friendly future.
World Children's Day has a long history. Since its introduction by the United Nations in 1954, it has stood for strengthening children's rights and promoting friendship among children. The festival in Cologne will be the perfect opportunity to both celebrate and raise the voices of children.