National CSOs’ Dialogue on SDG 8.7 and Child Rights successfully conducted

9 April, 2023, Kathmandu
The stakeholders committed to play their part in implementation of Palermo Protocol, promotion of CFLG, ending child labor and fulfillment of child rights in the National CSOs’ Dialogue on SDG 8.7 and Child Rights organized at Kathmandu with the presence of 300 participants representing various governmental bodies, development partners, Civil Society Organizations, child rights networks, child right activists, human rights defenders, and other relevant stakeholders of all 77 districts.
Mr. Ashok Khanal from National CFLG Forum stressed CFLG as the most effective framework for realization of child rights and urged the participants to play their part in creating child friendly Nation. Mr. Tilottam Paudel, president of Jcycn and SPCSN expressed his concern regarding lack of incorporation of children’s agenda in the common policy, program and budget endorsed by Nepal Government. He urged the participants to lobby for effective implementation of Palermo Protocol, increase in the child nutritional allowance, making the school mid-day meal program effective and promote child sensitive social protection. Child Friendly Local Governance is the National Framework that incorporates all the agendas of the children, and ensures sustainable promotion of child rights. National CFLG Forum is a national network working on CFLG, and has its secretariat at Jcycn.
Ms. Samana Baral from Swantantrata Abhiyan said that children should be engaged as the stakeholders, rather than target groups for inducing real change in ending child labor.
Mr. Santaram Dangol from Education Watch Group said that there is a lack of specific indicators and criteria for implementation of free and quality education, due to which effective education is only linked with the student’s fluency in English Language. Mr. Santosh Maharjan, president of Yuwalaya said that a National Child Advocacy Council has been formed as a loose network for the meaningful participation of children at all levels. Mr. Kumar Bhattari provided information on children as pride of Nation campaign.Mr. Surya Bhatta from AIN said that the problems are varied, and multi-dimensional, and expressed solidarity on the agendas shared.
Honorable Srijana Danuwar,Deputy Speaker of Koshi Province expressed solidarity in all the agendas raised and stressed the importance of joint intervention for the establishment of children as pride of Nation.
The program was organized by NGO Federation in collaboration with Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal (Jcycn), National CFLG Forum (NCFLGF), Swatantrata Abhiyan, Aasman Nepal, CWIN, Looniva, JVI International, Consortium Nepal, and so on.
Mr. Kiran Thapa, Central Member of NGO federation hosted the program. It was chaired by Ms. Nani Maya Thapa, central treasurer of NGO federation. Welcoming the participants to the event, Mr. Baijnath Chaudhary said the multi-dimensional constraints to fulfill our campaign of children as pride of Nation should be addressed through interventions from all seven provinces.
Providing their remarks in the open floor discussions, the participants raised the issue of the prioritization of children with disabilities in education, Nutrition Friendly Local Governance, girl’s empowerment, ending child marriage, online protection, increased capacity building, promotion of CFLG, increasing child grant, child protection mechanism and so on.
Mr. Deepak Jung Karki from National Human Rights Commission said that the implementation of Palermo protocol is being reviewed, and emphasized the importance of interlinkage between all three levels of the governments. Mr. Yem Lal Bhusal,Joint Secretary of Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens informed that the Ministry has prepared workplan to segregate roles of various stakeholders, and will work on increasing investment of children.
Mr. Maniram Acharya from Aasman Nepal concluded the entire discussion of the event, and provided way forward as per the discussions.
The program was able to facilitate fruitful discourse on various issues of children, and recommend constructive way forward for the further promotion of child rights in Nepal.