Edited by:
Sumnima Tuladhar
Sagar Raj Pradhan
Amiya Bhatia

Published by:
CWIN National Resource Centre on Child Rights and Children in Conflict


CWIN-Nepal
in partnership with
Plan-Nepal

P.O.Box. No. 4374
Rabibhawan, Kathmandu
Email: cwininfo@mos.com.np
URL: www.cwin.org.np

Uncertain Constitutional Assembly Elections has undermined Children's Rights

Children can not wait for tomorrow. The name of children is today. Children are not only the future of the nation but are the present as well. We all have equal responsibility for creating a favourable environment for overall development of children and for ensuring their rights.

After the overthrowing the autocratic rule of king by popular historic people's movement of April 2006, the twelve years long internal conflict has been ended and for the fighting Nepal Communist Party Maoists(NCP(M)) has participated in the interim government for holding constitutional assembly elections in 2006. Unfortunately, the NCP (M) decided to quit the interim government (IG) due to political debates and deadlock. After this there has been a state of uncertainty prevailed and the hope of sustainable peace in the country and holding of the much awaited Constitutional Assembly elections are at stake.

Such a situation of political uncertainty may lead to a catastrophic situation in the country and will also pave way for regression again. In addition, there has been no proper solution to the agitating movements raised by different groups for proper concern towards their issues in the national agenda. These circumstances will not only affect the national development scenario but will directly and indirectly jeopardize the rights of children in the country as in each and every political chaos, children have greatly suffered.

It is a dire need now to establish a truly democratic system where sustainable peace will prevail so that a safer Nepal is sooner realized for children and there is adequate concern from all towards children's issues. For this holding of constitutional election is essential so that a clear political way out is given for the development of the nation.

CWIN likes to once again call for all concerned including the Government, Civil Society, Non government organizations, media, Human Rights organizations, international community and general public for providing their helping hands to hold constituent assembly elections as soon as possible. CWIN also requests all to give emphasis to children's issues while advocating for the constituent assembly elections, for it is a fact that without giving importance to children's issues, no country will prosper and will establish a true inclusive democracy.

Public hearing programs on "Children are the zone of peace in present context" was held

With the aim of promotion and protection of children, CWIN has organized a public hearing program on "children are the zone of peace in present context" on 30 September 07 in Hetauda. The representatives are government officers, civil society members, journalist, local NGOs and political parties. With the changing political context; the program has successfully come to conceptual clarity on "Children as zones of peace" as well as commitments to fully respect norms and values children's rights during constitutional assembly. During the public hearing, political parties have committed that the children will not be used for political interest as they wouldn't involve children in protest, regular strikes and communal riots. It also discussed the protection of the children rights during the period of the constituent election. Participants have discussed future programmes which would be beneficial for the children and agreed to jointly plan for the interest of children. Similarly, the program was also conducted in Pokhara and Kathmandu. Dhrubharaj Gautam and Arjunraj Shai, program officers of CWIN had facilitated the programme with the chairmanship of Mr. Jhabindra Gyawali of CWIN helpline in Hetauda.

Kavre Declaration vows for Child rights
2nd October 2007, Dhulikhel

With the participation of 99 children (61 boys and 38 girls) of 70 different child clubs of Kavre district and child club affiliates, CWIN have organized a two day district level children assembly on the 2nd and 3rd of October 2007 in Kavre. The assembly has demanded new and clear clauses on child rights in the upcoming Constitution Assembly to guarantee child rights in the new constitution.

Particularly, calling for the implementation of the national - international commitment by the state in different times has not been fulfilled thus the child assembly has urged to tune a relation between progressive Nepal and the children. The assembly has also stated the 16 points declaration for the protection and guarantees of child rights to knock the Government, Political parties, Social organizations and concern stakeholders.

1. The state should guarantee the food, shelter and clothes as well as the fundamental rights of the orphaned, helpless, child at risk, and abandoned children.

2. By providing the access to education, guarantee free and compulsory education in the constitution to all children. End profit-oriented education, guarantee equal education for all and provide primary education in the mother tongue. Implement professional and practical educational. Promote scientific and behavioral education.

3. Put into practice declaring "children are the Peace of Zone". Don't close the school in the name of political interest by any one. Guarantee the rights of child education.

4. Don't discriminate children in any place by anybody in terms of race, caste, language, gender, color, religion, culture and differently ability condition.

5. Don't formulate the sister organization of political party and political activities inside the school premises. Political parties and their sister organizations should commit for implementation of "School as zone of peace".

6. Government should formulate the special program and guarantee for better future of the children at risk, those doing low level child labor, abandoned children, armed conflict victim and affected children and street children and children associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG).

7. While conducting program for promotion of Chill Rights by Non-Governmental Organization, government should formulate the plan of action to implement the program for at least 5 years with the emphasis on child participation.

8. Guarantee the right to vote for over 16 years - old children

9. Stop child trafficking.

10. State should manage the special program and implement the plan of action to create an environment of self-respect for the differently able and mentally handicapped children.

11. The special educational program should be implemented for the education and development of the children who do not have access to education and are deprived of education because they work as child laborers.

12. Commitment should be made both by the State and concerned stakeholders to guarantee the security of children and their rights from any type of conflict and violence. Urge to manage the special program of education; health and development of injured and displaced children form their respective family during period of internal conflict. There should be also special provision for displaced families of respective children to rehabilitation in the society.

13. Don't obstruct the special days of children such as children's day, immunization day and any types of child participatory development activities etc.

14. Guarantee to all children to access the health and immunization services from state. As well as it must be guaranteed on rights to safe birth of child

15. Manage the mechanism with feedback in the administrative central level while formulating program and activities for promotion of child participation in national, regional, district, and V.D.C. level.

16. Children under 13 years those who are compelling to work by various reasons should immediately rescue and provide the environment to assess the education Similarly, children between 14 to 18 years should pull out form risk types of labour will definitely help to make a Nepal as a free child labor country.

Committee member of District child club network, Kavrepalanchowk

CWIN Condemns Abduction of Innocent Children

The October incidence of kidnapping and murder of two school children make more unsafe to the life of children which is foremost violation of child rights. Still a few children are missing; some are still in the captivity of kidnappers. The state is powerless in controlling such inhuman activity and in replaying lip sympathy to the victim families. There are few criminal gangs who are involving in kidnapping of children and demanding huge sum of money on release. Some gangs are hired to kidnap the kids in order to take revenge against the families. Due to general lack of proper law and order in the nation as well as lack of laws to punish such acts; the criminals are encouraged and continue to promote illegal acts. CWIN condemns such terroristic acts and urges to all concern stakeholders to promote a better society for children.

Interaction Program on "Inclusion of girl issues in national policy Level"
October 4th, 2007, Kathmandu

On 4th of October 2007 CWIN organized a national consultation meeting to increase awareness for girls at risk in national policy and to share outcomes with concerned authorities. The main objective of the program was to recommend necessary changes to include issues around girls in Nepal's policies, to ensure the rights of girls, especially girls at risk. Representatives from government and non-government organizations, political parties, media houses and child rights activists were present in the program.

According to a child rights scholar, "Government has not been able to implement the planned actions that it introduces in National Policy for children and these issues still remain unsolved". At an interaction program organized by CWIN on "Children's issues on National Policy"; participants concluded that there is a lack of implementation of policy from state. They also added that according to the Child Rights Convention 1989, Nepal has been failed to follow the guidelines and practical applied of norms and values of this conventions. Rashmi Shakya, the program co-ordinator of CWIN suggested that National Policy should give emphasis on children's issues. Similarly Sita Ghimire of "Save the Children", Norway, said, "Today's youth covers 50 percent of tomorrow's human resources of this country ". In connection with this, Saloni Singh, a critic said that children are the most productive workforce for tomorrow". Meanwhile, junior secretary, Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, from Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare pointed out that those who have contributed a lot for the family should emphasize providing opportunity to increase the capability of children". Sita Ghimire representative from Save the Children Norway did a paper presentation regarding girls' issues, existing discrimination and their present situation. Her presentation was commented on by Saloni Singh from Didi Bahini. Likewise Vice Secretary of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Deputy Director Durga Khadka from National Human Rights Commission and Amrita Thapa Magar of Akhil Nepal Mahila Krantikari Sangh expressed their views in the program. Later the floor was opened for the discussion when representatives from different organizations put forward their views regarding the girl's issues. The president of CWIN Madhav Pradhan concluded the program saying that the government had been making laws, signing international treaties and agreements about the rights of children but has failed to implement them and it is a crucial time for introducing the right policies by the state on children issues.

A workshop on "The Role of Bus Park Contact Center in Child protection" was held in Hetauda on 29th September, 07

Due to various kinds of social as well as economics problems such as gender discrimination, domestic violence, fast urbanization and poverty, many children flee to the urban center in order to get better opportunity of survive but ultimately land on the streets. Children are facing different kinds of problems in urban areas. They are involved in working in huge industries where their life might be in danger, or else land on the street as beggars. CWIN has been operating a contact center at Katmandu, Balaju Bus Park since July 1999, in order to rescue and support to children at risk. Til date thousands of children have benefited from this contact center. Children in the urban center were lost at Bus Park by various reasons. To address such problems, a team of concerned stakeholders held a workshop on 8th June, 07 in Hetauda. This is a follow up workshop for answering of various unanswered questions and feedback for previous meeting. The Committee member members have concluded the meeting with the need of pilot study on causal relationship of increasing street children in Hetauda municipality as well as study for possible need of contact center at Heatuda Bus Park. In the programme there were 26 members from various organisations i.e. government officers, local NGOs, transport workers, public transport association and local people. Cwin helpline Hetauda's officer Bhabhindra Gyewali has highlighted the main points during the interaction program. A similar follow up program was already held on 5th June 2007 in Pokhara .

Madhav Pradhan, has nominated as the new President of CWIN

KTM- Gauri Pradhan, president of CWIN has been nominated for the member of National Human Right Commission. He is the founding president of CWIN. Mr Gauri Pradhan has two decades long experience in Child Rights promotion and protection in Nepal. Similarly he has played an influential role as a Human Rights defender in Nepal's human rights movement. He has contributed and played leadership role in CWIN , NGOs federation of Nepal, National labor academy, Human Rights Alliance as well as in other national international Human Rights associations, Since Gauri Pradhan holds the post in National Human Right Commission, Madhav Pradhan has been nominated and appointed as the new president of CWIN. A new executive committee was formed and new positions are as follows: Ms. Krishna Sundari Shrestha as Vice President; Mr. Tarak Dhital as General Secretary; Ms. Sumnima Tuladhar as Secretary and Mr. Subhod Shrestha as Treasurer. Similarly, members are Dhurba Kasajoo, Sapana Sharma, Anjan Amatya, Chandra Pansawan and Prem Swomen.

Speech competition held

Bhaktapur - On the occasion of "International Education Day", the child club associated with CWIN-Nepal of Shree Adarsha Higher Secondary School Layaku Thimi has organized a speech competition on the topic "Role of Children in Constitutional Assembly.'' Its main aim was to provide knowledge to the student on Constitution Assembly. In this competition Milan Sardar from Bhaktapur English Higher Secondary School came first, Karuna Shrestha from Adarsha Higher Secondary School came second and Mahesh Duwal from Nagdesh Public School placed in third position. Under the chairmanship of Goma Khadka, president of the child club; the winners were awarded with prizes provided by CWIN Nepal.

Quiz Content Competition held

In the occasion of Children Day- with the chairmanship of the President of Child Club Network Pushkar Thapaliya CWIN Nepal in coordination with Child Club network Nuwakot, District Child Welfare committee Nuwakot have jointly organized Inter Higher Secondary level Quiz Content competition program. Altogether students from 10 schools have participated.

Niranjana Higher Secondary came first, Tribhuwan Trisuli Higher Secondary came second and Bhairawa Higher Secondary Ashok Bhatika came third respectively. Bhumraj Tiwari of CWIN and District Child Welfare Committee of member Indra Bahadur Pandit were also presented during the function.

3 caught for suspected bid to traffic children

Maiti Nepal (MN) yesterday took three people- Tilak Bahadur Singh, Dan Bahadur Nepali and Sita Singh - into custody at Gadda Chowki on the suspicion of trying to traffic 11 children, aged between four and 16 years to India. The children, who were also taken into custody, are from Chaumala of Kailali district. Family members of the children claimed that the latter were heading to their relatives' places in Delhi. The detained children include four-year-old Kali Singh, eight-year-old Mahesh Shahi and Roshani Nepali, nine-year-old Nava Raj Shahi and Mahesh Abrader Nepali, 10-year-old Ganesh Shahi, 11-year-old Bikash Shahi and Bimali Shahi, 14-year-old Sita Kumari Singh and 16-year-old Apsara Shahi. The MN also caught 20-year-old Goma Kunwar and Yama Abrader Sarki of Butwal while they were heading to India under suspicious circumstances. The two have been sent to the district police office for investigation.

Source: The Himalayan Times Oct 29th , 2007.

88 children of Dhading involved in conflict

Eighty-eight children of Dhading District were directly involved in the armed conflict in the nation, said a survey report. According to the survey conducted in 42 out of 50 VDCs, a total of 153 children were found involved during the armed conflict while 88 of them were found directly involved in it. The survey was conducted by the Integrated Rural Development Campaign as per the programme run to re-integrate the children, who were involved in the armed conflict. The identified 88 children are staying in different 27 VDCs of the district, among them 54 are girls. "All the children are below 18 years old and 58 of them are from Dalit and indigenous communities, who were compelled to join armed conflict after forcing them to quit their school-level-education," said Gopal Lamsal, Chairman of the Campaign.

Source: The Rising Nepal.,Oct 26st , 2007.

Dalit girl raped in Lahan

Seventeen - year - old Nikami Devi Sada (named changed), a resident of Chandraayothdhapur of Siraha distrct was gang raped Monday morning at three o' clock. She had gone to watch a dance organization in Chharwachowk of Chandayodhyapur on the occasion of Durga Pooja. She was gang raped by Bijaya Kumar Thakur, Rajkishor Yadav of Belha at SIsaujhari turn by turn. The Young Communist League (YCL) District Office of Choharwa handed them over to the Area Police Office, GOl Bazar. Search is underway for other rapists, who are absconding, according to police.

Source: The Rising Nepal.,Oct 24th , 2007.

Kid drowns to death in Dang

Four-year-old Priya Khadga of Dang, Karjahi, Saudiyar VDC, Ward no. 3, died after she got drowned in a canal. According to the Area Police office in Tulsipur, she died in Malwar canal when she went to Manpur, her mothers' home. Meanwhile, Bishnu Nepali, resident of the Katuki Ward No. 2 of Dhhikipur was wounded when he was stabbed by his son-in-law.

According to District Police Office, Dang, Basanta Nepali injured father-in-law stabbed him under the influence of liquor. Injured Bishnu has been sent to Nepalgunj for further treatment after having minor treatment in Dang, stabbed Basanta has been sent to Area Police Office, Narayanpur.

Source: The Rising Nepal,October 23,2007.

Child abductions plague Valley: Another kidnapped minor killed

In yet another instance of brutal killings of a minor after abduction, a boy was found dead near Kamaladi Ganeshthan of the capital four days after his abduction. Durbarmarg police said the deceased has been identified as Rohit Gupta, 11, son of an Indian couple from Sitamadhi of Bihar, India. The child was found dead in a sack near Ganeshthan temple at Kamaladi. The child was found in a decomposed state inside a jute sack. Police suspect the kidnappers' might have killed the boy a few days ago and dumped the body at the site Sunday night. Rohit, son of a garment shop keeper at Khichpokhari, was kidnapped last Thursday while returning home from tuition. Following the abduction, kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rs. 250,000. However, when family members reached the stipulated spot with the money, they were told to go to Thankot area, but to no avail. Police said family members reported the case only two days after the abduction due to fear that the child would be harmed. The boy died of strangling. The culprits are yet to be identified. This is the second case of killing of a minor after abduction in a week. On Monday last week, eight-year-old Dhiraj Adhikari of Lalitpur was found dead four days after being abducted. Last year, an eight year old boy Bibek Sharma Luintel was kidnapped from Koteshwor and was subsequently found dead in Dhobikhola, near Chabahil a few weeks after the kidnapping.

SIX-YEAR-OLD missing from Tinkune

In another kidnapping case, six-year-old Niraj Khadka of Kavre district went missing from Tinkune on Sunday. According to his mother Bimala, a laborer, Hari Poudel was spotted taking the body toward the Bagmati River. There has been no information on the boy so far.

Police said these cases have been happening largely due to money laundering among criminal groups. "Abductors have been targeting minors in recent days as they are an easy way of intimidating and extorting parents," said Upendra Kant Aryal, Senior Superintendent of Police. Adding, "Parents should be alert. They should observe their children's movements. There should be stringent punishment for such kidnappers and murderers."

ARMY MEN ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPPING

Meanwhile, police arrested two army personnel with their two civilian accomplices in connection with a kidnapping and extortion case, from Balaju area of the capital on Sunday.

The arrested are Chandra Basnet, a corporal and Pralad Thapa, a soldier of army headquarters, Bhadrakali. The arrested civilians are Babu Singh Gurung and Chandra Gurung according to Balaju police. Source:The Kathmandu post October 16th , 2007.

Helpless kids living with ' killer dad' in custody

Police has brought along with them all the three children of Ram Prasad Panta as there is no one to look after them at home because all the senior members of the family have been taken into police on the charge of murdering Devi Panta. Ram Prasad, his second wife, two brothers, father and mother are in police custody since October 23 for murdering his first wife Devi. "We have brought with us Bishal, 10, Dibya,8, and Smriti,6, as there is nobody to look after them because every member of the family has been arrested for murdering Devi Panta," DSP Kanchan Thapa at the Balaju Metropolitan Police Circle, said. According to him, the children will remain with their guardian until anyone comes to take them. All senior members of the Ram Prasad Family were allegedly involved in strangulating Devi to death at their residence at Ichangu Narayan VDC-9, Kathmandu. "Devi was admitted to Manamohan Memorial Hospital, Sorakhutte and the family members had told the doctors that she had fallen from the stairs in the house, but the post- mortem report revealed something else." Thapa said. All those held were brought to the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, and yesterday for legal proceedings.

Source: The Himalayan Times, Oct 29th, 2007.

School for deaf seeks nod for higher classes

A school for the hearing impaired here is unable to run higher classes because government permission has not been forthcoming. Manakamana Primary School for Hearing Impaired at Prithvi Narayan Municipality-5, which is the only school for such children in the district, is awaiting permission to run lower secondary classes for the past two years. According to school principal Rom Abrader Thapa, the government is not giving permission because along with it, the government will also have to provide more teachers quota. "Under special education, there is a single teacher's quota provided by the government till now," he informed. The regional education office said the school was not given the permission, as it did not submit a deposit of Rs.75,000 necessary for the provision. However, Thapa argued that the government had excused deposit at the time of the school's establishment in 1999, considering it as falling under special education. He further added that the school is too poor to raise the amount. "We cannot expect even a little amount from parents as they are already very poor nor does the school have any property," he said. The land and the building used by the school belong to the Gorkha Hearing Impaired Association. The association has also arranged for four teachers so that ir can run further classes, "We are only waiting for the government to permit the school to run lower secondary classes," said Ram Kushal Pant, president of the association. Currently, 65 students from various districts including Tanahu, Chitwan and Dhading attend the school.

Source: The Kathmandu Post Oct 26th , 2007.

Date: 4th October, 2007, Kathmandu

Emergency support for displaced children in Kapilbastu incident

Hundreds of children have been displaced by the Kapilbastu incident of 16th September 07. In coordination with the local Human Rights organization, Political Parties and Nepal Red Cross; CWIN has provided humanitarian assistance for 654 displaced children of 3 different camps as per basic necessity reported during its fact-finding mission.

Food and other necessary support i.e. sanitation materials, some toys for small children have been provided to 252 children staying at Tara Primary Magargatta, 275 staying at Siddhartha Campus (No. 4), and 127 staying at Shivapur Secondary School, Sundardada, totaling 654 children. Similarly ready-made cloths were also provided for 275 needy children out of 654 children. With the help of local health authorities, free general check up for diarrhea, fever, and eye - ears and skin disease have been done. Similarly free medicines and first aid kits were distributed at the displaced camps. CWIN as well as the other organizations such as the Nepal Red Cross Society, Kapilbastu, ICRC, UNICEF has been providing also humanitarian assistance to the displaced people. The government should be serious in providing security and rehabilitation for the displaced families in their own home places as soon as possible and immediate implement process for alternative resources for safeguarding the situation of kapilbasthu. Displaced people have been leaving the Paththardaiya camp to take shelter at Siddhartha Campus, number 4 camps. Due to lack of proper management displaced families are deprived of proper bathrooms and drinking water which leads to the spread of communal disease such as diarrhea, fever. About two thirds of the children are infected by communal disease while 16 pregnant women are also suffering of illness.

According to the Sundare Dada Camp Management Committee at Paththardaiya V.D.C, Sanjaya Nepali, Nirmala Nepali, and Anita Nepali are still out of contact for two weeks after the incidents occured.

The children at the camp are deprived of basic education, health, and security. Camps are being established at school premises which have affected the daily activities of school. Except for some schools at district headquarters and some private schools, schools which are at
Sivapur, Paththardaiya, Khururiy and Magargatta V.D.C. are not operating yet.

CWIN Nepal has conducted humanitarian assistance in collaboration with National Human Right Commission, Advocacy forum Kapilbastu, INSEC Representatives, Local journalists, local representatives of Political Parties, Camp Management Committee and Nepal Red cross Society of the Kapilbastu region .

Brutal killing of an innocent child Dhiraj Adhakari

Date: 9th October, 07, Kathmandu

On Oct 4th, 07 while coming back home from the school, a criminal group had kidnapped eight-year-old Dhiraj Adhikari and killed him later. We would like to condemn this incident and give a heartfelt condolence to the family. Everybody got hurt by the incident of kidnapping cum brutal murder of 8 year old innocent child by the criminal group. The shocking act has once again proven that the State has becoming failed to protect and promote security to the general public as well as has increased doubt on the states' authority to guarantee child rights in the society. Similarly, last year too (on September 2006), an eight-year-old boy Bibek Sharma Luintel was kidnapped and was subsequently found dead near Chabahil a few weeks after the kidnapping. We demand the state to punish the perpetrator and guarantee children's right to survive. We urge to government to take action against the suspected kidnapping mastermind Nabin Shrestha, and his accomplices Tikaram Shrestha and Manojkumar Lama. We strongly demand that the state should promote peace and security with guaranteeing child rights and control on such inhuman acts in the coming future.

Inhuman killing of an innocent child Rohit Gupta

Date: 16th October, 07 Kathmandu,

We would like to condemn last Thursday's abduction cum murder of 11-year-old boy Rohit Gupta. Rohit Gupta, a son of Basudev Gupta from Sitamadhi of Bihar, India, who is retailer of a ready-made business on New Road. Rohit was found dead in a sack near Ganeshthan temple at Kamaladi. This incident adds to others, which in a short span, higher frequencies of murders of children have occured in the capital. Last week also, an eight-year-old boy Dhiraj Adhikari, a resident of Lalitpur was kidnapped and subsequently found dead a few weeks after the kidnapping. In this week only, a total of 6 children were abducted from different areas of the capital. Everyone was traumatized due to frequent abduction and murdering of the children. This shows the irresponsible act of the state towards guarantee the right of peace, security and survival of children in a peaceful manner as well as ultimately proving to question the country's peace process and security. We strongly demand that the state should promote peace and security to guaranteeing Child Rights and control of such inhuman act in coming future.