Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center (CWIN-Nepal)

Introduction

Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN-Nepal) in its 20th year of operation is a pioneer child rights organisation in Nepal. It was established in 1987 by a group of university students as a movement which brought a fresh approach to social work, defying the convention of charity and heralding a new concept of rights, empowerment and activism. It focuses its activities on the issues of child rights, girls' rights, child labour, trafficking, bonded labour, street children, child abuse and children in armed conflict.

CWIN works for the advocacy, protection and promotion of the rights of the child through lobbying, campaigning and social concientisation. It also directly works with children at risk for their rescue, support, socialization, education, empowerment and social reintegration.

CWIN is a voice for children. It believes that working for children is just not a charitable action but one which can bring about social change. In order to translate the CWIN conception of working "for children, with children" into action, priority is given to promoting and ensuring children's right to participation.

CWIN is registered under HMG/District Administration Office/Kathmandu, No: 517-047-048 and is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) No. 409/2048.

Vision

CWIN envisions a New Nepal which is democratic, inclusive, just and prosperous to all and sensitive to the rights of children in a real sense.

Mission

To work as a resourceful national organisation which aims to fulfil its historical responsibility by offering its services to ensure the rights of the child, especially for children at risk.

Objectives

• To mainstream child rights concept into the national development planning and programmes.
  
• To develop indicators and mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the national law and policy in action.
  
• To develop national child policy in collaboration with the government and other like-minded organisations.
  
• To develop policy and mechanism for emergency humanitarian services, reconstruction and reintegration of children at risk including children affected by the armed conflict.
  
• To strengthen capacity and mechanism of state, CSOs/NGOs and community organisations to ensure the fundamental rights of children, particularly the prevention, protection and social reintegration of children at risk.

Strategies

• To strengthen advocacy skill and capacity to review and appraise national and international law and policy on child rights.
  
• To explore ways and means in order to develop better and improved partnership with the government and state mechanisms to help promote and protect the rights of children.
  
• To explore possibility and develop new mechanism for alliance building and networking among like-minded organisations from community level to district, regional and national levels in order to address the issues and problems and develop mechanism to monitor the implementation of the CRC and other child rights instruments.
  
• To strengthen the sustainable CWIN Helplines system to address the issues of children at risk and emergency humanitarian services in out of reach areas.
  
• To review and restructure organisation and develop new mechanism in order to meet the challenges and strengthen its monitoring and implementation capacity.
  
• To review and strengthen policy and concept for partnership, alliance building and networking with government, state mechanism, corporate sector and NGOs.
  
• To explore and develop new avenue of partnership and networking with the community based organisations such as mothers' club, users' groups, community schools, teachers and parents, groups, kishori samuha and child clubs.
  

Approaches

• For Children With Children
  
• Rights based Approach
  
• Thinking Globally Acting Locally
  
• Network and Alliance Building
  
• Partnership and Collaboration
  
• Human Resources Development
  
• Institution Building and Sustainability
  
• Social Inclusion with children

Principal Policy Guidance of CWIN

CWIN works with the principle of "Action Through Advocacy". CWIN undertakes research studies, works as a national resource centre and a children's rights advocacy organization, and maintains a direct support system for children in crisis. Likewise, CWIN promotes community action and child empowerment through their active participation.

Way Forward of CWIN

CWIN is committed to taking forward the child rights movement to a new height with empowering children and their participation along with massive social mobilization. Through its advocacy work it will continue to influence mainstream development programmes in favour of children to foster democracy with children. CWIN has launched a new campaign called 'Build New Nepal With Children' so as to seek top priority to children's issues in the national development scenario and influence political parties, government, policy makers and other concerned stakeholders to show their commitment and act upon their promises to ensure rights of every child in the country. In addition, it will continue its efforts through advocacy, action and campaigns to meet national targets and goals with regards to children. CWIN will also continue to monitor the implementation of UN CRC and Other International Instruments and present recommendations for future action.

CWIN will upgrade its information and research work and make efforts to bring conceptual clarity on different children's issues. Similarly, CWIN will continue to play the role of a facilitating organization in order to strengthen institution building of different concerned bodies and local initiatives on child rights and enhance trained human resources in this field. It will initiate alliance building and strengthen partnerships with social organizations, government institutions, human rights and child rights organizations. Likewise, CWIN will also collaborate with he private sector to make children's issues more grounded.

Moreover, CWIN will continue to fight against child abuse and exploitation and ensure rights of children at risk. CWIN will also continue its efforts in peace building through advocacy on children in armed conflict and the nationwide 'Children as Zones of Peace' campaign. IT will work towards social reintegration and self-reliance of children in conflict. CWIN will make every effort to ensure children's participation at the national policy level and programmes level. It will also develop child friendly approaches to its work gained from working directly with children.

Issues to be addressed

• Elimination of child labour exploitation.
  
• Monitoring of the CRC related Laws, Policies and Codes of Conducts developed by the government and CSOs.
  
• Socialisation and reformation of street children, juvenile delinquents, drug user children.
  
• Education of excluded children and drop-outs/pull-outs.
  
• Return, Repatriate and Reintegration of children at risk including trafficked survivors, victims of child sex abuse and exploitation and children affected by the armed conflict.
  
• Empowerment and self-reliance of youth and adolescent at risk including adolescent girls.
  
• Addressing issues of children living with HIV and minimizing use and harm of alcohol, drugs and tobacco in children.
  
• Monitoring of the international child adoption, child care homes, corporal punishment
  
• Community mediation and justice system for juveniles
  
• Promotion of children's meaningful participation in the programmes and national policies related to children.