The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed a resolution declaring June 11 the International Day of Play.
The day will be marked annually.
Kenya was among 13 core group countries that championed for resolution, with the support of 138 countries that co-sponsored the resolution.
The other core countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
“Acknowledging that play and recreation are essential to the health and well-being of children and promote the development of creativity, imagination, self-confidence, self-efficacy and sense of responsibility, as well as physical, social, cognitive, communication and emotional strength and skills, decides to proclaim June 11 as the International Day of Play, to be observed annually,” a draft on the UNGA resolution seen by the Star reads.
It further invites all member states of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers of the General Assembly, as well as the organizations of the United Nations system, other international, regional and subregional organizations and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector and academia, to observe the International Day of Play appropriately through activities aimed at education and awareness-raising of the importance of play.
The Assembly said the UN Children’s Fund and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will facilitate the observance of the Day of Play.
The UNGA said the role will be observed in recognising play in building essential and transferable physical, social, cognitive, communication and emotional life skills at all ages.
It also acknowledges its positive impact on promoting tolerance and resilience and facilitating social inclusion, conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
It will also be in recognition of the importance of access to play and recreational activities and their contributions to the physical and psychosocial well-being and development of children and youth, regardless of their status.
