Edited by:
Sumnima Tuladhar Abinash Rai
Hanna Ketola

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

Obstacles cleared [TOP]

Three days after signing of the historical accord between the government and the United Madhes Democratic Front (UMDF), which not only paved the way for holding polls but also ended the two week-long strike in Terai, the government and the Federal Republic National Front (FRNF) have reached also an agreement to hold the Constituent Assembly polls at any cost. In this way, all obstacles on the path of the polls have been cleared.

The extreme patience shown by the government to bring both the UMDF and FRNF to the negotiation table and strike the deals surely deserves kudos. Both accords were signed after days of negotiation between representatives of the government and leaders of the agitating groups. What is more,, people across the country are breathing a sigh of relief as the strikes which completely paralysed their lives and created an acute shortage of essential commodities in the market are finally ended. Moreover, people are hopeful that they will not have to bear the burden of bandhs until the Constituent Assembly polls. With the obstacles cleared, the parties and persons who earlier announced a boycott of the polls are now preparing to take part in it.

The Election Commission too has shown maximum flexibility by extending the nomination date so that all parties can be accommodated in the polls. In fact through patience and bold steps the government has succeeded in creating an election-friendly environment in the country within a week, and now seeks to hold the polls on the stipulated date at any cost. Octogenarian Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who repeatedly has reiterated his commitment to holding the Constituent Assembly polls on April 10, has expressed his happiness over the accords and urged all to make the polls a success. People's dream of holding Constituent Assembly polls is being realised after 58 years. It is the duty of all Nepali people to make the polls a grand success.

CWIN-Nepal's participation in International Women's Day [TOP]

International Women's Day was celebrated on 8th March with various programs in Kathmandu the main slogan of the day being "Investment to women and children". In the event, women- and human rights organizations conducted rallies, seminars and other activities. CWIN-Nepal, Women protection pressure group and different trade unions participated in the rally.

International Women's Day is marked on 8th March every year. The tradition goes back to 8th of March in 1857 when women working in clothing and textile factories (called 'garment workers') in New York City, in the United States, staged a protest. They were fighting against inhumane working conditions and low wages. Two years later, again in March, these women formed their first labour union seeking to protect themselves and gain some basic rights in the workplace. In Nepal the International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time on 2017 B.S. by teachers in Dhankutta. From 2035/2036 B.S. onwards the labour women right, which was associated with trade unions, started celebrating International Women's Day.

Discussion program on National Child Protection Policy with children [TOP]

CWIN-Nepal organised a discussion program on National Child Protection Policy on 4th of March 2008 attended by 39 child participants and 18 adults. The Executive Director of CWIN, Sumnima Tuladhar, presented a concept paper and Madhav Lohani served as a facilitator.

Objectives of the program:

• To make children aware of the National Child Protection Policy.
  
• To get inputs from children on the National Child Protection Policy.
  
• To incorporate the issues raised by children into the National Child Protection Policy.

The three issues presented to the participants were as follows:

1. Definition of child protection
2. Child protection policy
3. Child protection policy: process and methods

After the presentation, the children were divided into three groups for group work, each group discussing the above mentioned three issues. After discussing for half an hour the children presented their ideas. They raised issues which are to be added and prioritised.. What is more, children suggested that Child Protection Committees and the Code of Conduct should be effectively implemented in remote areas; hoarding boards should be put up in places where people can easily get information about organizations working for protection of children and about child care homes. The Child Protection Policy should be also telecasted in radio and television. The program ended with a sum-up and conclusion by Sumnima Tuladhar and closing remarks by Madhav Pradhan.

Humanitarian support for displaced children in Kapilvastu [TOP]

After the conflict in Kapilvastu, many families with children were displaced from their villages and had to stay in IDP camps. The condition of children was critical. CWIN-Nepal in coordination with World Vision provided humanitarian support (School uniform and slippers) for the remaining displaced children of two VDCs (Bisanpur and Barkulpur), and with the help of Sahaj Nepal collected data of the remaining displaced children. Altogether 206 children (121 boys and 85 girls) were provided school uniform and slippers. Among them 170 school children received school uniforms and slippers and 36 children below four years of age received baba suits and slippers. Among these 206 children 53 children were dalit, 37 were Janajati, 67 were Muslims and 49 were Brahman and Chhetri. Earlier CWIN-Nepal had provided humanitarian support for 570 displaced children of five IDP camps (Bisanpur, Khuruhuriya, Shivapur, Pathardaiya and Ganeshpur) in coordination with World Vision Butwal and Sahaj Nepal.

No use of children in Constituent Assembly election [TOP]

An interaction program on "Use of children in Constituent Assembly Elections" was organized by CZOP National Coalition on March 11, 2008. In the program different Child Rights activists talked against using children aged below 18 years in the Constituent Assembly election, as it directly violates the rights of children. Mr. Bhola Dahal, president of CZOP National Coalition, said many children are likely to be used for election in various forms, including the use of children for campaigns. However he stressed that children are zones of peace, and Child Rights should be the concern of all. The organization has forwarded a memorandum to be included in the election code of conduct, issued to Election Commission, saying children should be protected from political activities, and their right to education should be ensured.

Child Rights activists were concerned of the use of schools for political campaigns as well as their closure, and criticised the use of students in mass gatherings. These activities are taking place despite the provision in article 23 of election code of conduct, which prohibits the use of children in any type of procession, rally, gathering or election campaign. Accordingly, child rights activists suggested not to use schools for elections providing there is an alternative, and what is more, to allow monitoring the use of children in the election activities. Finally, they pledged to report cases of misusing children during the election to the concerned authorities.

Public hearing on "Constituent Assembly and CZOP" in Chitwan [TOP]

A public hearing on "Constituent Assembly and CZOP" was conducted in Chitwan among four political parties: Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist and CPN-United. In the program district level leaders of four political parties talked on the issues of constituent assembly and promised to respect the principles of CZOP. Importantly, they promised to avoid using children for election activities. Altogether there were hundred participants in the program, which was organized jointly by CWIN-Nepal and Diyalo Pariwar and held in Narayangadh at Diyalo Pariwar's hall. The program was covered by local newspapers and local FMs.

8 year old girl debt-bondage for Rs 2000 [TOP]

A local teacher in Suhelwa, Gulariya kept 8 year old girl as a debt-bondage for a year, because she was unable to pay loan of Rs. 2000.00 which her mother owned to the father of the teacher. The father of the girl had gone to India to earn money but had not sent anything back home.

The girl's hand was injured due to continuous dish- and clothes washing, but as her mother tried to bring her back home the money-lender refused saying "bring money and take the girl." Her mother had even given a rice-cooker, which she had won in a raffle, to the money-lender.
The girl was studying in class 2 at Mahakabi Devkota Secondary School and had been first in class 1. However, during the debt-bondage her rank decreased to 22.

The girl said that she was able to go to school only when she was free from the work and not able to study well because she was constantly so tired. When this news was published, different organizations and people came into the girl's rescue and provided financial support. Finally, the teacher herself went to Suhelwa to return the girl back home. The municipality and other organizations have committed to supporting her studies. The girl is now back with her family and very happy. She says "I am very happy and will study. I will not go to work in other's house. I had come 1st in the class one and will try to come 1st again."

Source: Naya Patrika, March 2 & 4, 2008

Dalit boy badly beaten [TOP]

A dalit boy at Bandhu-9, Bajura has been unable to sit for annual examination after a group of non-dalit persons beat him up and severely injured him. Sixth grader Randeep Sarki, aged 15, is undergoing treatment at district hospital Martadi. Jaya Bahadur Karki along with his relatives severely thrashed the boy. According to his father Randeep's only mistake was that he chased away Karki's horse while it was grazing on his wheat field. Unconscious Randeep was rushed to hospital by the villagers. According to Dr. Dilip Sah at the hospital, Randeep needs to stay few more days at the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile Padam Karki thrashed another dalit boy Bhuwan Sarki, aged 9 in the same village, blaming him for touching a water vessel at a public water tap.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, March 7, 200

Daughter given as "Kamlari" missing since eight years [TOP]

A Tharu couple living in a settlement for freed Kamaiyas in Bardiya of Gulariya district has been looking for their missing daughter, who was given away as a 'Kamlari', or bonded laborer, for the past eight years. Although they have been repeatedly appealing to the local administration including rights activists and other concerned organizations to look for their missing daughter Bhujwa Tharu, the father said that no activities have been taken. "We know nothing about our daughter who was taken by landlord Bhim Bahadur Adhikari of Auri in Magaragadi eight years ago" the father told Kantipur Daily. "When I asked about my daughter, asked how she is, Bhim Bahadur got angry with me instead." According to Bhujwa, Bhim Bahadur had handed his daughter over to a relative living in Kathmandu, promising she would get a monthly wage and would be admitted to school. Speaking at a program on 'Rehabilitating Kamlaris' organized by Kamaiya Women Awareness Society and Radhakrishna Tharu Welfare Center, Gulariya, Desrani, the mother of the missing girl said that although they tried to contact the person who had taken their daughter to Kathmandu repeatedly, they could not reach him. "My daughter is 18 years of age now. At least I need to be told whether my daughter is dead or alive," she appealed. Chief District Officer Shiva Prasad Nepal said anyone found involved in employing minors, exploiting them or forcibly making someone disappear would be brought to justice.

Source: Kantipur Daily, March 8, 2008

A student beaten up by a principal and badly injured [TOP]

A boy residing in Haripurva 9, Sarlahi was beaten up by his principal and badly insured. 10 years old Shanti Niketan studying in class 3 in a boarding school has come to district headquarter Malangawa to search for justice. The principal had beaten up the boy accusing him of stealing one of his mobile phones and, according to boy's father, tortured the boy for four hours in a closed room. .

At present the boy was staying in a hostel. The father showing the injuries on his son's body to the reporter said: "I have put petition in Police office and Human Rights activists, and media people should talk against injustice". The boy told that the principal beat him twice and kept him in a room for four hours. Moreover, the father said his son was beaten up first and then given a Brufen tablet to minimize the pain before he was beaten again. He also said his son was bleeding from ears and was suffering from rheumatism. The father was going to take the boy to Kathmandu for further treatment.

Source: Naya Patrika, March 11, 2008

Students demand guarantee of child rights [TOP]

Students have demanded schools and educational institutes to be declared as peace zones during the Constituent Assembly election. In an interaction program regarding education in a conflict situation, Shiromani Ojha, a class 10 student from Udaydev Secondary School, Kanchanpur, demanded child rights to be ensured: "How can we be sure that child rights will be ensured by the Constituent Assembly election? The political parties should have expressed their shared commitment to declaring schools as peace zones." Furthermore, he noted that if the Constituent Assembly election concerns all Nepalese people, it should take into account children as well. On the contrary, the frequent bandhs and strikes have had a negative effect on children and youth, making the future of their studies uncertain.

The interaction program was organised by Save the Children Alliance at the Ministry of Education. Journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, rights activist Subodh Pyakurel, educationist Sumaya Rai and student leader Thakur Gaire, among other leading figures in the educational field attended the discussion panel.

Source: Nepalnews.com, March 13, 2008

February 29, 2008

Welcoming the agreement between the government and United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF) [TOP]

CWIN-Nepal welcomes the eight-point agreement reached between the government and the United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF), which ended the 16-day long indefinite strike in the Terai region on February 28, 2008. The agreement between the government and United Madhesi Democratic Front has paved a way for guaranteeing equal opportunities for Madhesis, Dalit, Janjati, women and other disadvantaged groups. Moreover, it has ensured the Constituent Assembly election that is to be held on April 10, 2008. We insist on implementing the agreement made between the government and United Madhesi Democratic Front.

The 16-day long strike in Terai region affected people's lives. Students attending the SCL- or other final exams suffered due to the closure of schools. Many children were also affected because their, parents could not earn daily living due to the strike. The agreement raised a ray of hope in the country as it was going through a rough phase and emergency time. We plead the government to respect people's suffering and provide compensation to the dead, injured and other people who were affected during the movement. Moreover, children who were dependent on the people affected and other children at risk should be protected.

Since all the political parties have committed to "Children as Zones of Peace" principles, and government has already declared schools as "Zones of Peace" we request everyone to implement their commitments. In particular, we request all not to use children in the coming Constituent Assembly election for their own political purposes, and appeal everyone not to create unsafe environment for children. Let us all work from today onwards for the protection and development of children through the implementation of the principle "Children are Zones of Peace."

Women in Nepal [TOP]

General Scenario

Economically Active Population (1)

Sources: (1) CBS, (2) Nepal Planning Commission, (3) Ministry of Public Administration Nijamati Kitabkhana 2004, (4) Judicial Council
March 2008