Children's Day in Cape Verde

A fixed date and national holiday

Cape Verde’s Law No. 69/VI/2005 declares June 1 a national holiday called Children’s Day. The date is fixed rather than tied to a weekday, and the law took effect immediately after its approval and promulgation in May 2005.[1]

The Ministry of Education’s school calendars also identify June 1 as a national holiday, and the school-year rules exclude national holidays from teaching days. This makes it a non-school day when it falls during the school year.[2]

Children’s rights and protection

In Cape Verde, the day sits within a wider period of public attention to children’s rights. The government describes June as a month dedicated to promoting and defending those rights, with other dates in the month focused on protection from violence, child labour, and the rights of African children.[2][3]

Public observances

Government records show that observances can include public awareness events as well as activities for children. In one documented example, the Ministry of Family, Inclusion and Social Development and Cape Verde’s Institute for Children and Adolescents organized a march with UNICEF and public and civil-society partners, followed by cultural performances and messages about children’s safety online.[3]

That example illustrates the rights-focused side of the occasion; it does not establish a single nationwide programme or an annual custom. The available official account documents activities in Praia, but does not describe consistent traditions, foods, or regional differences across the islands.[3]

What to expect as a visitor

Because June 1 is legally a national public holiday, government and other services may not follow their normal weekday schedules. Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go. Check opening hours with the business, transport service or attraction before you go.[1][2]