Children are Zone of Peace

The country has embarked upon the difficult transition from armed conflict towards reconciliation and reconstruction. The situation of the conflict-affected children is yet to improve despite the ongoing peace process in the country. Children are severely affected by the conflict physically, mentally and socially. Children are a part of the larger civilian population affected by war and are affected in many ways because of their vulnerability. Conflict deprives children of parents, care givers, basic social service, health care and education. Building a lasting peace that sustains post-war economic, political and social development requires the full participation of all citizens including children. Yet it is increasingly recognized that the role of children in post conflict settings has received inadequate policy attention. Children have special short and long term post-conflict needs, such as tracing of family members, readdress and social reintegration, psycho-social rehabilitation programmes, participation in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes as well as transitional justice frameworks. Respecting children's rights and caring their needs is the most important aspects of reconciliation process during post conflict situation. The community's role in this transition needs to shift from narrow humanitarian and relief activities to more comprehensive efforts to foster sustainable peace. Failure to address children's issues will eventually fail the peace process and hampers restoration of sustainable peace. Positively, focusing on the protection of children can be a powerful way to break down barriers between people, restore community values, and contribute to peace building. Respect for and protection of children is a responsibility to be shared by all including parents, local communities, political parties, governments and the international community.

EVENT OF THE MONTH

[TOP]

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION (GCE) : ACTION WEEK 2007 (APRIL 23 - 29, 2007)

THEME: EDUCATION AS A HUMAN RIGHT
SLOGAN: JOIN UP FOR EDUCATION! REACH YOUR RIGHTS NOW!

Global Action Week is an activity celebrated around the world to pressurise theGovernments and the Education Stakeholders for the accomplishment of the 'Education for All (EFA)' goals of the respective countries. It is programmed from April 23-29, 2007 around the world. In Nepal, it is organised by GCE Nepal which is the network of 27 member organizations. Global March in Nepal has the secretariat at CWIN premises.

The focus on Education as a Human Right leads the campaign to promote the entire Education For All agenda. Too many governments have been pressurised to make choices between investing in one part of EFA over another. But education rights cannot be traded off against one another. Adults and pre-school children have as much right to education as primary school children. A rights-based approach means we need to look at the 6 EFA goals holistically or as a chain - rather than taking any one of them separately.

The central concept underlying this year's Global Action Week campaign is that civil society would create a chain of testimony and accountability from local to national then onto regional and international so that world leaders are at the end of a civil society monitoring chain - a 'chain' of people joining hands and messages to pass up the realities of where EFA is 'on the ground' and what violations there are to education as a human right.

The general hierarchy of messages for the 2007 campaign is:

Education is about fundamental inherent human rights
2007 is the mid way point for the EFA goals and at current rates of progress these are not going to be met.
80 million children are still out of school, and almost a billion adults are illiterate
What are you as leaders going to do about it NOW before it is too late?

In Nepal also different activities were carried out to pressurize the government and the education stakeholders for the rights to education:

1. Big Chain: Symbolic Solidarity for Education Rights

Kathmandu, 25th April 2007 - The right activists have said that one of the most important Loktantrik (Pro-democratic) Rights is Education Right. The view was expressed in the program "Big chain for Rights to Education" that was organized in Mandala, Maitighar by Global Campaign for Education (GCE - Nepal). In the programme BIG CHAIN was formed by children, different local networks and organizations related to education, I/NGOs, departments of government, Teacher's Association, UN agencies, journalists and representatives of different organizations. The chief guest of the programme was Hon. Mr. Mohan Singh Rathore, the Education State Minister, Ministry of Education and Sports. He said "Our education policy is still incomplete for which we should bring progressive policies." He also added that the donor agencies have supported with resources for education in Nepal but there is no proper management. Mr. Gauri Pradhan, SA Regional Coordinator, Global March added, "No children should be deprived from education in coming days and everyone should commit for this and development of new Nepal is not possible until all children have the right to education". Similarly, Ms. Gillian Melsop, Country Representative, UNICEF said, "The reason why we are making a human chain is to signify our solidarity for a holistic and all encompassing education system. She added, "We want this human chain send the message to the leaders in Nepal and throughout the world that they should not let another generation of children and adults go without an education." Another speaker at the programme Mr. Chij Kumar Shrestha, Country Representative, World Education said, "All the children of Nepal are not able to go to school despite some changes in education system. Bhagwati Thapa, Ramila Banskota and Saroj Guragain representing many children who are out of school said that because of various social, economic reasons they are not able to go to school. They asked the leaders to pledge for the education rights to all.

2. Television Interaction Programme on "Education as a Human Right"

Two television interaction programmes were organized with the participation of Mr. Laba Prasad Tripathi, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson, Ministry of Education and Sports; Educationist, Prof. Dr. Mana Prasad Wagle and Prof., Education Specialist, Dr. Sumon Kamal Tuladhar, UNICEF,; Programme Manager Education - VSO and AIN Education Taskforce Member, Mr. Purna Kumar Shrestha,. The interaction focused on the progress and the challenges on education sector that has been made so far till the mid way of 15 years plan. According to Mr. Laba Prasad Tripathi, "There has been significant achievement in the enrolment rate in the primary education from 60% to 87.4%; in every VDC, there is at least one primary school; and the awareness level has been remarkably increased". Prof. Dr. Mana Prasad Wagle said, "Despite of the increment in the enrolment rate, we still need to work more to ensure Rights to Education as the Child Right which has to be taken as the ultimate responsibility of the state." Dr. Sumon Kamal Tuladhar stated "In regard to the worldwide assessment of the EFA goals achievement, Nepal still has to increase by 2.5%." The participants of the interaction prodded that to meet the EFA goals in the context of Nepal there should be: holistic approach in the education system; micro level planning; commitment from the political parties, commitment of all the education stakeholders for quality education, and making inclusive education system more effective.

Likewise, similar interaction programme was broadcasted on the same theme with the participation of: Mr. Mahashram Sharma from Department of Education, Dr. Bidhya Nath Koirala, Educationist, Mr. Chij Kumar Shrestha, Country Director, World Education; and Mr. Bhola Dahal, Team Leader, Education and Children in Peace Building, SCN representing Coordinator, AIN Education Taskforce.

3. Interaction Programme on Education As a Human Right

On April 27, 2007 an interaction programme was organised whereby three papers were presented. The sessions were on: a) Education Right as a Human Right by Mr. Bhola Dahal, Team Leader, Education and Children in Peace Building, SCN representing Coordinator, AIN Education Taskforce and Programme Manager Education - VSO and AIN Education Taskforce Member, Mr. Purna Kumar Shrestha b) Rights based Education System and Challenges by Dr. Bidhya Nath Koirala, Educationist c) Human Rights Concept in Curriculum: With Reference to Teachers' Training by Mr. Ananda Paudel, Specialist, Curriculum Development Centre, Ministry of Education and Sports. There was overwhelming participation from INGOs/NGOs, UN agencies, Trade Union, Journalists, Teacher's Association and representatives from all the 8 political parties responsible for respective education departments.

For more news on GCE, log on to: www.campaignforeducation.org

PRESS RELEASE

[TOP]

Global Campaign for Education

Global Action Week, April 23-29, 2007

"Join up for Education Rights"

Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is an international network working to achieve the goal, "Education For All". The network is established in 1999 with numbers of international organizations and networks as members. GCE in Nepal is currently coordinating with twenty seven different organizations (national and international); working in the fields of education, government sectors, teachers' unions, UN Departments, Journalist groups etc to extend its campaign effectively. Global March is coordinating the GCE Secretariat in Nepal where other members include Action Aid, CWIN Nepal, CONCERN Nepal, Educate the Children, Education Journalist Group, Global Action Nepal, International Labour Organisation, IFCD, Department of Education, MS Nepal, Nepal National Teacher's Association, Plan Nepal, Rugmark Foundation, Saujanya Media, Save the Children Norway, Save the Children US, Seto Gurans, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, USC Nepal, VSO Nepal, READ, World Food Program, Room to Read and World Education.

Global Action Week is celebrated worldwide in the month of April and the celebration in Nepal was started since 2003 with different awareness and sensitisation programs. This year Global Action Week is celebrated from 23-29 April 2007 (10-16 Baishak 2064). Various programs are being organised on the theme of "Education as Human Right" being main subject and "Unite for Rights to Education" being global slogan. This press meet is being held on this first day of the campaign and the campaign week will follow with various interactive programs on Nepal TV, Kantipur TV, Star FM with publication of e-bulletin. Big Human chain will be demonstrated on 25 April for children who are deprived of education where they will voice out for education as their fundamental right. A national level workshop will also be organised on 27 April as the Interim Constitution has also quoted education as basic rights of children.

The whole nation is preparing for the constituent assembly election for establishment of people's democracy. Every day, some or the other incidents are taking place in political scenario of Nepal. Hence, GCE is making the effort to address the issue of children's right to education as more than one third of children; specially girls are deprived of school education. Children are the stones of foundation of New Nepal. Thus, GCE requests all of you to unite for guarantee of education for every child.

Gauri Pradhan
Co-ordinator,
Global Campaign for Education Nepal / 23 April 2007 (10 Baishak 2064)

CHILDREN ARE ZONE OF PEACE

[TOP]

Rolpa Declaration on Child Rights and Child Protection

Forty eight per cent of total population of Nepal is children. Without their protection and development, creating New Nepal is not possible. Meaningful child participation in every sector is a mandatory. CWIN Nepal, CWIN Rolpa and District Child Welfare Board jointly organised a programme on 'Child Rights and Child Protection' on 11th and 12th Chaitra 2063. In this regard, 27 children from fourteen child forums in Rolpa have made a 12 point declaration demanding child rights.

Birth registration is every child's right.
Private schools should be under Nepal Government providing equal and quality education for all. Free education till the higher secondary level should be provided. There have to be at least one school in one community and ratio of teacher and classroom has to be 1:1 with better school infrastructure, proper and timely distribution of books. Every child should have the right to education in their mother language and special arrangements for education have to be provided to differently able and destitute children.
Children who are displaced, disintegrated, disabled or orphaned during the period of armed conflict have to be identified and the process of social reintegration has to be started. They have to be provided with free education and financial support. Dalits, differently able, janajatis (indigenous communities) and girls have to be prioritized for education.
Health posts in every VDC should be equipped with enough health workers and free medical support, and on time vaccination for children should be provided. Every school should be equipped with at least first aid box.
Discriminatory behaviors against children in the districts such as child marriage, child labor, sexual exploitation, trafficking, kidnapping, etc have to be stopped.
To ensure the rights of children on participation, they should be allowed to vote for constituent assembly election.
Schools should be declared as alcohol-tobacco free zones. Every school should have compulsory 'Code of Conduct' for teachers, students and their guardians.
Schools should provide necessary facilities like drinking water, toilets, play grounds, laboratories and libraries.
Formation of child clubs and their development should be facilitated.
Children's court should be established to ensure their legal protection.
Every VDC has to be connected with roads where differently able children should be provided with concession by 50%.
Victims of conflict should be provided with free medical check-ups; psychological counseling; rehabilitation as per need. Reintegrated children after conflict should be provided with education and vocational trainings. School curriculum should include peace studies.

NEWS

[TOP]

Nepali kids win UN prize

Two Nepali students, Abishek Parajuli and Bipin Pandey were declared winners (Asia Pacific category) of an essay competition, the global Human Rights and Poverty writing contest.

The resident and humanitarian coordinator of the UN System in Nepal, Matthew Kahane and OHCHR representative to Nepal, Lena Sundh, gave away the awards.

The UN department of Public Information New York, and the Geneva based OHCHR organised the contest for Human Rights Day 2006.

Parajuli, tenth grader at St. Paul School Darjeeling, wrote about an eight year old boy from eastern Nepal while Pandey, a ninth grader at Om Secondary School, Bhaktapur, wrote of racial discrimination.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 7th April 2007

School turned into alcohol selling store

Amarsingh Primary School, Piple VDC ward no. 4, Myagdi turned into an alcohol selling store during the festive season of Chaite-dashain. This affected the school exams and will have a negative impact on the students of the school. According to the locals there, the school premises were allowed to use in coordination with the school principal Mohadatta Subedi. They said that despite their objection on using school to sell alcohol, it has been used time and again for the same purpose.

Source: Himalayan Time, 3rd April 2007

Government launches HIV guidelines for kids

The Government has launched the first Pediatric HIV and AIDS Treatment Guidelines for Children living with HIV. Nepal is the fourth country in South Asia to develop national guidelines for children living with HIV, a release issued by the UN Children's Fund said. The guidelines were launched at a programme attended by representatives of the government, UNICEF, WHO, pediatricians and technical experts.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 3rd April 2007

CWIN IN ACTION

[TOP]

Child Helpline-Nepal: Toll free number 1098 (Ten-Nine-Eight)

Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MOWCSW) along with partner organisations: Central Child Welfare Board, Plan-Nepal, Save the Children-Norway and CWIN Nepal jointly organised a one day program on "Child Helpline-Nepal: Role of Government and other Concerned Stakeholders" on 18 April 2007.

Chief Guest of the program Honorable Minister for MOWCSW, Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma stated that the state alone cannot address the problem of children which is emerging parallel to other problems of the state. Hence, to establish children's right, non-governmental organisations (national and international) have to join hands together for the movement and the ministry will support in every manner. He further said that we are poor in implementation part but we have to break this trend. We should make efforts to establish 'Child Helpline-Nepal'.

In the programme, MOWCSW presented a paper on "Structure of Child Helpline-Nepal and its Working Mechanisms".

Representing Childline India, Mr. Sandeep Kumar Mitra shared the practices being followed by Childline India. Representatives of organisations running Helplines in Nepal: CWIN, Himrights, LACC, Maiti Nepal and Balbalika Khojtalas Samanwaya Kendra also shared their practices.

The toll free number 1098 under MOWCSW has been provided to CWIN by Nepal Telecom Authority. Currently, CWIN is providing helpline services for children at risk from five cities of five regions of Nepal: Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Hetauda, Pokhara and Nepalgunj. The number 1098 will soon come under operation.

National Consultation on 'Children are Zones of Peace' held

A national level consultation on 'Children are Zones of Peace in the Current Context' was held on 12-13 April 2007. Participants from 17 districts discussed on importance of extending the 'Children are Zones of Peace" campaign in the current changed context. The participants made an appeal to the eight political parties of the government to seek their commitment in action to promote children as zones of peace. On the concluding session, representatives from major political parties agreed upon and signed the memorandum on 'CZOP in Changing Context' at the program jointly organised by CWIN Nepal and Plan Nepal. Central Committee Members from Nepali Congress, Nepali Congress Democratic, Nepali Communist Party: United Marxist- Leninist, Nepali Communist Party: Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Communist Party: Maoist, Janamorcha made commitments that child rights and child participation should be guaranteed in the process of the making of new Nepal and parties will incorporate issue of children in their respective manifesto.

CWIN Review and Planning Meeting Held

CWIN Nepal organised a two day 'Review and Planning Meeting: New Direction for 2008-2010'' with the coordinators, programme officers and other staff members of the organisation. The first day of the meeting was scheduled for review of programs held in previous years 2006-2007 and second day was scheduled for three years visionary planning for 2008-2010.

Gauri Pradhan, President-CWIN Nepal chaired the program. He briefed about the organisation along with the objectives of two day meeting being held. The program was followed by departmental presentations. Five departments of CWIN: Research Information and Documentation; Gender and Social Inclusion; Advocacy; Community Mobilisation; and Finance and Administration presented their previous performance. The presentations incorporated: Achievements; Challenges; Concerns; and Suggestions from the respective departments.

Program Coordinators made another set of departmental presentation on 'New Direction for 2008-2010'. Open floor discussions followed the presentations and comments were incorporated in the presentations.

Gauri Pradhan, President-CWIN Nepal made a presentation on 'New Direction for 2008-2010 for CWIN' incorporating presentations made by the departments. He presented Vision; Mission: Objectives; Strategies of CWIN for three years.

BITTER FACT

[TOP]

FACTS ABOUT CHILD LABOR IN NEPAL

The total population of children in Nepal is around 6,225,000, out of which 1,660,000 children are economically active whereas, 279,000 are wage child labors.
In Nepal, 127,000 children are trapped in the "worst forms of child labor". According to ILO, seven worst forms of child labor include trafficked children, bonded laborers, porters, mine and carpet factory workers, domestic workers, and rag pickers.
In South-Asia, Nepal leads in terms of the percentage of economically active children. The ILO estimates that while 45.2% of Nepali children are economically active, only 30.1% of Bangladeshi, 14.4% of Indian and 17.7% of Pakistani children are economically active.
The economic participation rates of children have dropped significantly overtime due mainly to school enrollment (e.g. from 50.5% in 1971 to 28.8% in 2001). The larger rate drop for boys (59.2% to 27.3%) compared to girls (40.1% to 30.4%).
6 out 100 working children are full time waged child labor. 84% of economically active children work an average of 14 hours per week, with older children and girls working more hours. 43% of economically active girl children work more than 28 hours per week.
Approximately, 12,000 children, mostly girl children are trafficked every year from Nepal.
In addition, 63% of children in the worst forms of child labor have had some education before joining the work force, though only 18% of them are able to attend school.
27% of child domestic workers and 3% of bonded child laborers reported work place accidents, mostly cuts and burns. 62% of rag pickers and 46% of porters reported illness as a result of the harshness and unhealthy conditions of their work.
Wages in the worst forms of child labor for the most part range from minimal to nonexistent. In many cases, salaries are paid directly to the parents. 69% of children employed in industrial establishments reported wages of less than NRs.1000 per month. Of the 39% of domestic child laborers who were receiving a salary, 59% of all child domestics and 79% of girl domestics had their salaries collected by their parents.
The national child labor and Nepal labor force surveys indicated that children who do not attend school have a 50% higher work participation rate. In rural areas only 36% of working children are literate, while this rises to 54% in urban areas. Studies also indicate that labor participation rates decrease with the level of education of the household head.
Though there is no exact estimate of children's involvement in armed conflict in Nepal, it is reported that children were used as porters, militia, informers, cook, and kitchen helpers, etc. by both conflicting parties during the decade long armed conflict.

December 2006

Source: UNICEF, ILO, Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN-Nepal)

BOOK IN SPOTLIGHT

[TOP]

'Peace is Our Aspiration' published by CWIN, 2006 holds the pictorials and writings expressed by those children who have experienced the brunt of armed conflict in Nepal. Dutch experts Ms. Eva Kipp and Gemma te Woerd contributed in publishing the book and is edited by Ms. Sumnima Tuladhar from CWIN. It aims to bring out children's experiences and feelings about the violent war and their aspirations for future and for peace. It also aims to convey the message that children are both the present and future of the nation, hence should not be victimized by any conflicts which ruin their entire lives.

This book is prepared after the group of staff and experts worked with children to learn their experiences and feeling, facilitating them to express through their own writings and paintings. This book can be a good tool for recollecting the history of war in Nepal through children's perspective and building a hope for the next generation.