National Symposium on Child Protection held at Lalitpur

National Child Protection Alliance (NCPA), in collaboration with Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal (JCYCN), National Child Friendly Local Governance (NCFLG) Forum, DUCOM, Consortium Nepal, HRTNCC, National Coalition for Girls Rights, CZOP and Education Watch Group successfully organized a National Symposium on Child Protection on December 20, 2019 at Lalitpur. It was jointly supported by Swatantrata Abhiyan Nepal, Nepal Good Weave Foundation, SaathSaath, CWISH, Biswas Nepal, Looniva, Children Nepal, FOWEP, JCYCN and Child Nepal.

A total of 80 representatives of different child rights focused organizations and ten networks, covering all the seven provinces were present in the program. The program was chaired by Mr. Krishna Chandra Acharya the Chairperson of NCPA and FOWEP, Nepal. Hon. Parbat Gurung, Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens was present as the Chief Guest. The representatives from NHRC, NCRC, ILO, UNICEF, Save the Children, and other CSOs were invited as special guests. Mr.

Tilottam Paudel, Secretary of NCPA and Coordinator of NCFLG Forum emceed the entire event. Mrs. Writtu Bhatta Rai, General Secretary of NCPA delivered a welcome speech, thanking all the participants for their presence. She highlighted that the major objective of the gathering was to discourse for the continuation of the movement of the government and CSOs and ensure the implementation of the newly adopted laws relating to child rights.

The welcome address was followed by two presentations on child protection from Mr. Gauri Pradha, Former Member of NHRC and Mr. Tarak Dhital, former Executive Director of NCRC. They gave presentations on “The required institutions for child protection” and “The way forward for Government and CSOs in Child Protection” respectively.

Mr. Tarak Dhital in detail, introduced the most pressing child rights violation issues in our countries such as child marriage, girl’s protection, child labor and trafficking, and also elaborated the identified ways to address such issues. Further, he suggested to emphasis on the implementation of laws, efficient budget allocation, establishment of Unified Child Protection System and many more for effective outcome delivery.

Secondly, Mr. Gauri Pradhan highlighted the responsibilities of the INGO and CSOs to continue taking preventive along with curative steps against child labor. He emphasized on the need of preventive child protection policy in every public and private domain where children are concerned. In addition, he highlighted the role of media, youth and professionals in child protection sector and recommended the government to play an active role in promoting child welfare through the promotion of Child Friendly Local Governance and implement the existing laws by ensuring proper rules, regulations and directives in provincial and local level.

Following the presentation, Hon. Minister Parbat Gurung gave his address by concurring to the presentations done before. He made solid commitments to follow through and work his best in regards to making the laws in provincial and local level. He said that they were indeed imperative for enforcement of all the new laws that were adopted.

Afterwards, Parliamentary member Mrs. Durga B.K and the child right activist Krisha Subedi expressed their opinion in the program. The need to intervene exclusively on girl’s rights was also focused in the program.

A few votes of appreciation and questions from the floor followed the remarks from the Chief Guest after which the symposium came to an end. Later, the Annual General Meeting of NCPA was also held and a new 13 member committee on the chairmanship of Mrs. Writu Bhatta Rai was formed.