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Volume 4 No 9 September,
2007
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Editorial
CAZOP Campaign
Updates
CWIN in Action
CWIN in News
Children in
News
Press Release
Fact Finding
Report
Facts sheet
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An
Inexcusable Crime <Top>
Once again, Nepal is hit hard by the incident
of serial bomb blasts in Tripureshwore, Sundhara and Balaju on
2nd September. The motive behind this incident is to create an
environment of terror. The bomb exploded in the areas around schools
and public transportations. From the explosions, two students
of Bishwa Niketan College (Anisha K.C. and Sandhya Khadka) and
a woman were killed and more than two dozen people including a
two-year-old girl were injured. This incident is not only a violation
of human rights but also the violation of children who are supposed
to be respected as zones of peace.
Such incidents, carried out during a crucial
period when the suitable environment for building peace in the
country is being created, are outrageous. Even during the long
years of armed conflict in the country, such incidents of bomb
blasts targeting the public in public places had not occurred.
The government therefore, should be more alert and ensure a safe
and peaceful environment for the public so that the upcoming Constituent
Assembly Elections can happen. Another major responsibility of
the government is to find out the perpetrators and bring them
into justice so that such incidents will not occur in future.
Children can never be enemy of anyone and they
should be kept away from any violence and conflict. To explode
bomb in public transportation vehicles with students as passengers
is an unforgivable crime. This incidence has once again confirmed
the need of establishing "Children and Schools as Zones of
Peace".
Those who are behind these ruthless incidents
have seized the hope of building peace in Nepal. All should come
forward to strongly denounce such inhuman acts and work towards
establishing sustainable peace.
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CAZOP
Campaign Updates |
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"Building
New Nepal with Children" <Top>
National Level Interaction
with Media
17 September 07, Kathmandu
Among the many changes in the nation, the hopes
of building a new Nepal are raising and the Constituent Assembly
Election is fast approaching. Since half of the population of
Nepal is children, the formation of new Nepal must give priority
to building Nepal with children in mind. Thus, "Building
New Nepal With Children" is a national campaign to secure
the future of children and provide them protection here and now.
CWIN Nepal organized a one-day national level
interaction with media on "Building New Nepal with Children"
on 17 September 07 in Kathmandu. Participants discussed issues
related to children that needed to be addressed towards 'Building
New Nepal." Participants decided that each sector must give
priority to children's issues and concerned media should take
initiative through different initiatives. During the course of
Nepal's restructuring, the media was requested to give high preference
to the following subjects that concern children:
1. The formation of new Nepal must begin
for children and the particulars mentioned must be notified to
the public.
2. State of machinery, political parties
along with concerning should inform and create view on the mentioned
context.
3. The concerns of children should be
given priority both before and after the election of Constituent
Assembly.
4. Supervision on implementation on the
matters related to children should be issued through Code of Conduct
by Election Commission in relation to Constituent Assembly Election.
5. In discussing new Nepal, the media
must give priority to children's voices and perspectives.
6. The media should give high priority
to the following points during the process of forming new Nepal
regarding children
"Development
of New Nepal with Children" <Top>
Commitment and solidarity
from political parties during National campaign on 20 points Declaration
Letter
7 September 07, Kathmandu
1. Progress child rights and fundamental child
development.
2. Give priority to the questions around on
the procedures of country development for Child Rights and Development.
3. Provide free education services throughout
the country, provide job training education for those not going
to school and making all children literate at least in their mother
tongue.
4. Rescue children from all forms of exploitation
and protect them from alcohols and drugs by enacting and implementing
relevant legislation.
5. End those diseases which can be cured, reducing
the child mortality rate and provide free medical services.
6. By giving more priority to the issue of child
rights and development, stop all kinds of child exploitation and
foster childrens' participation in the development of the country.
7. Provide food, shelter, security and care
to children who live in poverty and suffer from malnutrition.
8. Stop any activity which hinders children's
physical, mental and intellectual development.
9. Declare children as the Zone of Peace and
help children from conflict towards re-integration.
10. Organize national programmes to control
and eliminate child labour and street children.
11. Preliminary child development is the basis
of child development as a whole. Hence, children should have access
to and be involved in activities related to elementary child development
before they enter formal primary school.
12. Social security should be confirmed by protecting
and developing child rights, providing it to children living at
risk such as those from poor families, street children, child
labours, disabled, HIV/AIDS infected, orphans, abandoned children
and those deprived of protection from exploitation and discrimination.
13. Formulate a national child protection policy
and implement it to protect the rights of those children living
at risk. Also effectively implement essential rules, regulations,
policies and Code of Conduct for the Government, Non-Governmental
and Private Organizations working through rehabilitation and service
centers.
14. Endorse policies, codes of conduct and programmes
that regard children positively and provide a space for them without
hampering their development.
15. Rescue children living in crucial conditions
and place them in appropriate social programmes.
16. The rights of children with different abilities
should be protected, along with their full development and participation
in the process of national development.
17. Give priority to gender equality as well
as equal and proportional development. Similarly, emphasize the
participation of children from every sector in the process of
National Child Development.
18. Though Child Rights is a matter of concern
for every individual, it is the government's responsibility. Therefore,
the government must realize and implement child rights.
19. The notion of child friendly homes, communities,
schools, villages, cities and countries should be supported along
with the protection of child rights.
20. Active and constructive participation is
necessary in the process of Constituent Assembly and its development
later.
National
Children's Day held in Kavre-Palanchowk <Top>
National Children's Day has been celebrated
on 15th September since last year. This year also Children's Day
was celebrated nationwide through different, organized programs.
This year, Children's Day was celebrated under the slogan: "Secure
Child Rights Infrastructure in New Nepal". CWIN-Nepal also
celebrated Children's Day by organizing different programmes among
and for children. Sangita Lama of Ramechhpe gave her opinion that,
Children's Day cannot be successfully celebrated without the compulsory
participation of children." "Children's Day was first
celebrated on the 29th Bhadra or September 14, 1989 and it was
on the same day that Nepal had signed the treaty on Child Rights,"
said the General Secretary of CWIN, Mr. Madhav Pradhan.
Scholarships
distribution for Shant deaf and Mentally Retarded <Top>
CWIN helpline Makwanpur provided scholarship
to students studying at the Shant Deaf and Mentally Retarded Primary
School. CWIN has provided scholarship to 72 deaf students of Ambhjyang,
Hetauda., Churimai, Gadhi, Niwatar, Padampokhari, Hatiya, Chhatiwan,
and Dhiyaal
Child
Helpline 1098 will be implemented from 2007 <Top>
It is Nation's responsibility to protect
the Rights of Children and to create an environment that enhances
their mental and physical development. Similarly, to address children
at risk and provide them with a suitable environment is also another
responsibility of the Nation. The governmental and non-governmental
organizations are jointly initiating a program called "Free
Hotline 1098" in order to increase people's access to the
service. Thus, it has been initiated by the Government's Ministry
of Women, Children and Social Welfare. This law was recently announced
in the programme held on 19th Bhadra, 2064. Ministry of Women
and Children Welfare, CWIN-Nepal, Save the Children-Norway and
PLAN-Nepal jointly organized the programme in which the President
of CWIN-Nepal, Mr. Gauri Pradhan said that the main purpose for
the initiation of Helpline Service is to gather information related
to children at risk and to provide them with the necessary services
and help them in their socialization process to re-integrate them
with their family.
This Helpline service will help the agencies
and people working for the protection of Child Rights to gather
information regarding children at risk. In the programme, the
participants who had formulated the procedure of the helpline
had come up with various suggestions and tips. The Ministry is
still working on the procedures in order to meet the suggestions
given by the participants. The helpline will provide its service
to both children at risk as well as the individuals who can give
information about any children at risk. In addition, information
was also distributed about the Helpline to let people know that
it is a free service.
Parties
promise to work for kids <Top>
Leaders of various political parties
today expressed solidarity with a 20-point charter of demands
put forward by CWIN for the national campaign: "Let's Start
Making a New Nepal with Children."
The 20 - point charter seeks constitutional guarantee of child
rights and child development issues and also urges to keep them
under priority to meet the national goals. It also seeks the guarantee
of compulsory, accessible and free education for the children
along with their rights to receive education in mother tongues.
It also seeks an end to all forms of exploitation,
oppression and misbehavior through the formulation of new laws,
rules and policies and their effective implementation. Addressing
a discussion programme organised by the CWIN, Sitaram Mandel from
the NSP(A) said there is inequality in education. Stating that
two types of education systems exists in the country: one for
the elite community and the other for the commoners, he said,
that "the state should provide the same type of education
for all children to guarantee child rights." Himalayashwor
Mul from the NWPP said the nation should focus on education and
health for the overall development of children. Nepali Congress
leader Narihari Acharya said election candidates should have a
clear understanding of child - related issues to address them
in the right way.
Source: Himalayan Times, 8th September
2007.
Dial number 10,
9, 8, rescue helpless kids <Top>
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social
Welfare has requested the members of the public to call the telephone
number 10, 9 and 8 to help rescue, protect and care for children
who are lost, in a difficult situation, in an accident or are
affected by conflict. The Ministry has started the toll free telephone
contact for bringing about improvement in the lives of the deprived
and destitute children living on the streets due to the abject
poverty of their parents affected by the people's war. The telephones
will come into operation in the near future. Secretary at the
Ministry, Punya Prasad Neupane said the Ministry will immediately
contact different child protection organizations after getting
information about any children on the given phone numbers.
Speaking at a programme organized at the
Ministry to celebrate Bhadau 29 as the National Children's Day,
Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Khadga Bahadur
Bishwakarma said the State should make arrangements for providing
free education and health services which are the basic rights
of children. The government had decided to celebrate Bhadau 29
every year as Children's Day. It was on this day that Nepal had
ratified the United Nation Convention on Children's Rights in
1989. According to the Nepal Labour Foundation, 39% of the children
in Nepal work as domestic labour.
Source: The Rising Nepal, 16 September,
2007
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Children Killed in bomb attack <Top>
Two children were killed when a socket
bomb was hurled by an unidentified group at Sikraun VDC-4 in Siraha
district, Thursday evening.P olice at Michaiya said that the bomb
went off while the children were sleeping on the veranda around
8:30 pm. Pradip Yadav's seven-year-old son Mashav Yadav and eight-year-old
nephew Upendra Yadhav were killed in the incident. Uprndra, who
is from Teraha, Dhanusha had been living with his maternal uncle's.
According to police sub-inspector Bhim Rijal, the boys were rushed
to Mirchiya primary health post for treatment. However, they were
both declared dead at the health post. Issuing separate statements
Friday, human rights organizations in the districts strongly denounced
the incident and demanded the government punish the guilty promptly.
No one has owned up to the bombing so far. Police said they were
investigating the incident.
Source: The Kathmandu Post 1st September,
07
Twelve Children and
Adolescent Rescued <Top>
On Monday, twelve children and adolescents
who were brought to India, of Sarlahi District were handed over
to the Nepal Police by the Indian Police.
The Chief of the Crime Investigation Section
of the District Police Post, Krishna Prasad Sharma said that parentless
twelve children were handed over to us from India. They all were
between ten and seventeen years old. The children were Fek Majhi,
Baidha Nath Majhi, Pradeep Majhi, Bishwa Ram Majhi, Sudish Majhi
and Ram Pratap Majhi of twelve years from Ward 4 of Chandra Nagar
V.D.C.
Others are Bechu Majhi of 17 years, Dharmendra Majhi of thirteen
years, Jay Kumar Majhi of ten years, and Ram Babu Majhi of fourteen
years from Ward 5 of the same VDC. Rambabu Majhi of thirteen years,
Binod Majhi of fourteen years, and Faken Majhi of ten years were
from Ward 6 of Chandra Nagar VDC.
The S.P of the District Police Post, Ganesha
K.C. said that it had been investigating for more information
about the 12 children.
Source: Annapurna post, 18 September,
07
Kid
Raped in Rautahat <Top>
A 32 - year - old man has raped a four
year old girl, district Police Office, Rautahat said. Nur Alam
Ansari, a resident of Santapur Dostiya of the district and currently
living in Gaur Municipality -5 had raped the girl child of his
neighbour at about 2:30 pm, police said. The child had undergone
the medical check up after her parents complained the police about
the incident. The police have continued the search of the pedophile,
Ansari who had absconded after the crime. It is learnt that Ansari
is the editor of the Crime Care Weekly published from Rautahat.
Source: The Rising Nepal, 12 September
07.
Damsel
Cruelly Killed After the Rape <Top>
A missing girl's dead body was found in Friday morning. She had
been missing since Tuesday.
The daughter of the Kamal Shah, Rita Kumari of fourteen, had gone
to bring the grass and she didn't return to home by midnight.
Although the parents searched all around they weren't able to
find till Thursday.
When the villagers saw the dead body of Rita
in the neighbor's field, they had called the police. Police said
that her breast, hands, legs, and eyes were injured.
Her father recognized her daughter's body by
her cloth. According to the police she was raped by a group and
cruelly killed the on the first day. Police added that one killer
cut her vagina also.
S.P Rom Khami said that police had initiated the investigation
over the land owner Ridaya Singh, Sawan Singh, Rambilash Singh,
and Anarudra Singh. He also said that two of the killers had run
away who were involved in this case.
Source: Naya Patrika , 15 September , 07
Girl
Children Want end to Child Marriage
<Top>
At age 11, a poor dalit girl had a tough
time tackling the situation when her parents tried to marry her
off. "I avoided marriage by hiding in one of my friends'
house," recalled Manoja Kumari Paswan, 17 of Rautahat. But
her 16-year-old younger sister, who did not revolt, is now the
mother of a month - old baby girl and does not go to school. Sunita
Bohara from Humla, 16, who was married a year ago is against child
marriage, though she does not want to comment on her marriage
because she is being provided with the opportunity to continue
her studies and serving society. Paswan and Bohara are two among
76 girl children gathered here in Katmandu Valley for a National
Consultation and National Policy dialogue. After the consultation
from september 4 to 7, they passed a seven - point declaration.
"…. there should be strong laws with strong punishment
and action against those involved in promoting child marriage.
The child bride should be provided with psychological counseling
therapy," reads the declaration. During the meeting organized
by the Beyond Beijing committee in collaboration with Action Aid,
UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM, Save the Children Alliance, Plan Nepal
and Him Rights, the girls agreed that perpetrators of sexual abuse,
harassment and exploitation should be dealt with seriously. On
behalf of children living with different disabilities, they demanded
that Braille be made available to all. They have also demanded
access to skills/vocational training.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, 16 September,
07
On the occasion of International Peace Day
Children
Shouldn't Be Victimised <Top>
Every year the UN celebrates 21st September,
as Peace Day. Although the internal armed conflict ended in Nepal,
Nepalese people haven't been assured of peace yet. Children, who
cover nearly the half of the population, suffer a lot during the
turmoil of the political period. The recent incidence of Kapilbasthu
has taken lives of many innocent children. Many houses were burnt
down and many children have become orphans. We urge concerned
stakeholders for special arrangement for maintaining peace in
Kapilbasthu. We also demand humanitarian assistance and rescue
with free medical treatment of victims.
In addition to this, the Madhesh incidents are
of concern to us, i.e. general strike and Banda that continue
to hamper children's education in the Madhes region. In connection
with this, schools are forcefully closed down and a huge number
of children with school uniform are being used for political activities
as a violation of Child Rights. It has violated the norms of "Children
as the Zone of Peace". On the occasion of the International
Peace Day we request all the political parties not to use the
children in the adult's political activities and urge them to
respect the fundamental rights of the children. On the occasion
of the International Peace Day, Let us all commit from all possible
ways for bringing real peace in the country.
September 21, 07
Children
Affected in Kapilbastu Incident <Top>
A previous report on an incident that took place
in Kapilbastu on 24th August to 16th September 07 showed that
hundreds of children have been displaced and 20 or more children
have been missing. The report prepared by fact finding team of
different Human Rights organization, under the coordination of
CWIN-Nepal, has mentioned the following points:
The information about the number of children
who have died and are injured is not known to the administration.
The study team has stated that people aged 40
and over are being treated in the Lumbini Hospital at Butwal.
Whereas, only 2 children who are under treatment at Kapilbastu
District Hospital have been contacted as per the study team.
According to the report, no curiosity towards
the affected children has been felt. Further it states that there
is no-one to raise voice for the children, and the children are
in a situatio where they are separated or departed from their
family. From the day the incident occurred in Kapilbastu, except
in the headquarters, all the school have been closed. Since, then
they have no access to education. Now, the schools have been burnt
down. If this situation continues to prevail then schools in other
VDCs will take a long time to reopen and function properly also.
The team had undertaken a field study in Chandrauta,
Birpur, Krishna-Nagar, Taulihwa, Bisanpur, Ganesh-Nagar, Lalpur,
Maanpur, Patthardaya, Butwal and other districts in Kapilbastu.
Even the human rights activists were not been
able to collect facts regarding the situation. It has been reported
that the victims of the incidents have even complained about not
receiving any security or relief. The situation of the children
in Kapilbastu is very crucial. The people there are facing problems
even to meet basic needs such as clothes and shelter. This, therefore,
has given a negative impact on the psychology of the children
there. Thus, an immediate need for relief in Kapilbastu has been
reported in the report.
A large number of people, who have been dislocated,
are not able to return to their villages. Also, the schools are
closed and questions have arisen about where the dislocated children
will go to study. Even the teachers from the hilly community,
in the southern part of the Terai region and the northern part
of Kapilbastu have been dislocated.
The report concludes that the Local Administration
and Security Forces have been responsible for this incident. If
the Administration had declared a curfew in Kapilbastu, the destruction
would have been minimized. Only after the appeal of residents,
civil society and human rights activists, did they announce a
curfew. On the day when the incident had occurred, an Administration
had declared a curfew at 1 p.m. Even while Chandrauta bazaar was
burning, the police silently stood by and didn't even try to contact
a fire brigade.
Conclusion of the Report
Till now, the number of people and property
that had been damaged in the incident at Kapilbastu is just estimation.
But it can be estimated that the damage caused by the incident
is towards millions of rupees. Although there is discrimination
amongst people regarding Regions (Pahadiya and Terai) and Religion
(Hindu and Muslim); everyone is affected by the incident. Weakness
on the part of Local Administration and Police Force has also
been recognized. Similarly, the lack of sensibility shown by the
Government and Political parties to handle the incident at Kapilbastu
was also highlighted.
Suggestions:
- True and reliable information should
be published. Information related to death, injured and dislocated
should be disseminated and the situation of the children should
also be made available to the people.
- Investigations should be done in order
to find the culprits and legal action should be taken. Similarly,
the victims should be provided with immediate relief and aid.
- The victims should be provided with
immediate human services. Also, keeping in mind the needs of
the children, separate arrangements should be made for them.
- As this incident has made a deep impact
on the Child Rights and Right to Education, all the related
sections should take a necessary step.
- Similarly, as this incident has made
a negative impact on the psychology of the children; emotional
and psychological care should be made available to them.
Children
in Nepal <Top>
- In Nepal, the mortality rate of children
below 5 years of age is 76 per 1000 birth
- Every year 27000 children die due to
diarrhea.
- 46 percent of children are suffering
of malnutrition
- The population of below 16 year's children
accommodates 41 percentage of total population
- In Nepal 87 percentage of children
are admitted in primary level school.
- Children have contributed 6 percentage
of total Nepal's total domestic production.
- Ten percent children are handicapped
out of total population of Nepal.
- Twelve thousands Nepali girls are
sold in India every year.
- There are twenty-six lakh child labours
in Nepal.
- Approximately five thousand children
are street children in Nepal.
- Out of total marriages, thirty-seven
percent are child marriage in Nepal.
- Four hundred eighty- seven children
have died in the armed conflict in Nepal.
- Fifty-six thousand children have worked
as domestic child labor in Nepal.
- Forty-six thousand children are worked
as child porter in Nepal.
- There are forty thousand bonded child
laborers in Nepal.
- There are fifty-nine thousand child
labor workers in the Brick cliché in Nepal.
- There are seventy-two thousand child
laborers working in tea shops in Nepal.
- 32 thousand children are involved in
macadam area in Nepal.
- In Nepal, 15 thousand child laborers
are involved in mechanical area
- In the Kathmandu Valley, there are
22 hundred children working as transportation labor.
- 17.4 percentage of children in the
10-16 age groups take different kinds of alcohol. Among them
21.25 boys and 11.25 girls are involved.
- 20 percentages children are Dalit children
out of the total population of children. They are 19 lakh in
numbers.
*Source : Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Education, UNICEF Nepal, ILO, Geneva 2006,
Concern, CWIN Nepal.
September 2007
CWIN-Nepal
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