June 4 is “International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression”

Several decades have passed since the designation of this day at the special session of the UN General Assembly held in August 1982. However, the children’s   miseries and suffering from war get worse day after day.

According to the report released by UN Women in April, 6,000 mothers are estimated to be killed and 19,000 children orphaned in the Gaza Strip in 6 months since October last year.

The public health authority of the Gaza Strip also said that women and children account for nearly 70% of the death toll that reached 33,000.

Death and sufferings of women and innocent children are not just confined to Palestine.

More than 100,400 children died or disabled in wars between 2015 and 2020 and child mortality continues to increase in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America according to the UNICEF report. This is one of many data on the dire situation of children created by wars and arms conflicts.

The international community calls for effective protection of children affected by war. However, active measures that can put an end to the dreadful bloodshed that the aggression and conflict bring to the children fail to be taken.

Removing the misfortune of the children at an earlier date is not just in the hands of the country concerned but requires concerted international attention and efforts for ensuring peace and stability.

Children are indeed the future of the country and humankind.

In our country, all children are benefitting from the nursing system of pre-school children and the universal compulsory 12-year education, giving full play to their talents according to their hope and aptitude in the school children’s palace, primary schools, junior and senior middle schools.

And children without parents are enjoying a happy life in  baby homes, children’s homes and primary and secondary boarding schools that have been built in a splendid manner across the country under the warm love and care which they couldn’t expect even from their own parents.

When the state suffered a great loss due to natural calamities like floods and typhoons, the reconstruction of nurseries, kindergartens, schools and hospitals together with the dwelling houses were given top priority. And the children of affected areas enjoyed the happiest time at the Songdowon International Children’s Camp – an excellent seaside resort with a beautiful scenery - during the whole period of reconstruction free from the agony of being homeless.

Indeed, the legends of love bestowed on our children will continue to be written forever as in the past under the state policy of greatest importance.

Witnessing the happy life of our children who are growing up into the reliable pillars of the country, enjoying all the pleasures to their hearts’ content with no worries, our people keenly realize the benefits of our socialist system under which dark clouds of war are removed and the bright future of our posterity is safeguarded.

Our children who grow up happily, free of worries, under the blue sky of our country tell us once again that the happy smile of the children as well as the peace and stability of the country can only be guaranteed when we have a great leader who provides such an excellent system.