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Volume: 5 No. 4 April
2008
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Editorial
CWIN in Action
CWIN in News
Children in News
Press release
Constituent
Assembly Election concludes in a successful and peaceful manner
[TOP]
The historic Constituent Assembly election formally concluded
on Thursday (April 10, 2008) with a very encouraging turnout of
voters. During the voting process not a single violent incident
was reported in the Kathmandu Valley which has in total 15 constituencies
- ten in Kathmandu, three in Lalitpur and two in Bhaktapur district.
As a whole, from the perspective of child rights Constituent Assembly
election was concluded in a peaceful manner, except for few incidents.
Different political parties used children for various purposes
in the election process (before, during and after election). Major
political parties had included issues of children in their manifestos,
pointing out that children constitute almost half of the nation's
population. Still, many examples of violating the code of conduct
by using children took place during election.
Most of the political parties used children
in publicity campaigns and victory rallies and for casting votes
for their parties, even though they had repeatedly committed not
to use children in any process of Constituent Assembly election
against children's' best interest. In this way, most of the political
parties violated code of conduct Article 23 of Election Commission.
There has been an increment in the awareness
on the use of children among the public. During monitoring on
the Election Day no violence, affecting children, was reported.
In comparison to past election, this year fewer children were
used for foul voting. However, many children were used as volunteers
by political parties and Election Commission in different district
for giving drinking water to the voters, helping voters to stand
in queue, search the voter's name on the list and put the ink
on voter's thumb. In some districts children also cast their votes.
In some districts children's names were on the voter's list whereas
in other areas children cast vote in the name of adults and dead
parents.
Press
meeting on "Protection of Child Rights in Constituent Assembly
Election" [TOP]
On April 2, 2008, CWIN-Nepal organized a press
meeting on "Protection of Child Rights in Constituent Assembly
Election" with media people and journalists in Kathmandu.
There were altogether 36 media people and journalists from various
media and newspaper agencies. In the program Tarak Dhital presented
a concept paper on the topic and Sumnima Tuladhar briefed the
audience about the state of Rights of Child (SOROC) 2008 in Nepal
which was released on the same date.
The program covered issues related to the use
of children by political parties during election campaign, analysis
of issues of children in Constituent Assembly manifestos of major
political parties and report on state of the Rights of the child
2008. Journalists were provided with press statement, SOROC report,
list of issues of children in Constituent Assembly manifestos
of major political parties, an analysis of these issues, election
campaign leaflet and the publication 'Children in new Constitution'
(Naya Sambidhan ma Balbalika). Also glimpses of children being
used in Constituent Assembly election, which had been covered
by some newspapers, were put up.
A Press Statement on Constituent Assembly election
and child protection was issued by CWIN-Nepal during the press
meeting. In the press statement CWIN appealed all concerned stakeholders
like parents, political parties, Election Commission, Election
observers, media government and security forces to fulfill their
duty to protect children from negative effects caused by election
activities as it is necessary to build new culture of child rights
in the process of building New Nepal.
CWIN-Nepal
Campaign on Child Rights during Constituent Assembly election
[TOP]
In 2007 CWIN-Nepal launched a national campaign
entitled "Let's build New Nepal with Children". During
the campaign CWIN organized series of consultations with various
stakeholders, including political parties, children's groups,
civil society and organizations, where it presented a concept
note on "Children and Constituent Assembly". The seven
main political parties also signed a pledge to address children's
issues in the course of Constituent Assembly election. Outcome
of the consultation was published and disseminated to all concerned
stakeholders. In addition, CWIN published a booklet which listed
the issues of children that should be addressed by the new constitution
of Nepal.
In 2008, CWIN-Nepal started a national public
campaign with the main slogan "Let's not use children during
Constituent Assembly election". The main focus of the campaign
is on the protection of children from any risk situation during
the Constituent Assembly election.
For the campaign, CWIN-Nepal published and disseminated
seventy thousand leaflets to all the political parties and public
with an appeal: "Let's not use children during Constituent
Assembly election". CWIN-Nepal formed a core group of staff
to be mobilized for the campaign. The group went to various mass
gatherings of different political parties and disseminated leaflets.
Similarly, CWIN volunteers received orientation on Constituent
Assembly election campaign and were mobilized for the campaign.
The CWIN-Nepal campaign reached to 30 districts including CWIN
office branches in 10 districts. Moreover, leaflets on protection
of children were disseminated via e-mail to 5000 individuals and.
all District Child Welfare Boards (DCWBs) in all 75 districts.
On CWIN's special request to Election Commission, PSA (issue of
not using children in the elections) was broadcasted through radio
and FMs frequently.
CWIN-Nepal report
on Constituent Assembly Election and Child Rights monitoring
[TOP]
April 22, 2008 (2065 Baisakh 10)
Kathmandu
Background
In 2007 (2063 Bhadra 21), in the context of
building new Nepal after the peace agreement, CWIN launched a
national campaign entitled "Let's build New Nepal with Children".
.CWIN organized discussion programs and consultations with various
political parties and brought forward the issues of Children and
Constituent Assembly.
CWIN raised the issues of children during a
discussion program organized by Election Commission on the draft
code of conduct 2063 for Constituent Assembly member election.
CWIN together with CZOP National campaign (Common campaign of
organizations working in children's sector) had submitted memorandum
on incorporating issues of children in Election code of conduct.
For the first time, the demand not to use children during election
was incorporated into the code of conduct. Moreover, CWIN requested
the political parties to give priority to children's issues in
their manifestos.
CWIN organised various awareness programs and
campaigns in coordination with political parties, civil society,
community and DCWB through its branch offices, demanding not to
use children in processions, rallies, mass gatherings, or in foul
voting through illegal means such as intimidation, threat or lure.
In the context of Constituent Assembly election,
the matter of child protection and the need to prioritise children's
issues in the Constitution of new Nepal were once again topics
of discussion. Regarding child protection, the code of conduct
of the Election Commission, the Article 23, 2064, clearly stated:
"No children should be made to participate in procession,
rally or mass meetings and/or be involved in campaigning or any
kind of election related activities". Likewise, all the political
parties had included issues of protection and development of children
in their manifestos.
In the agility of Constituent Assembly election,
CWIN-Nepal monitored the activities regarding use of children
and incidents of violation of child rights through child rights
perspective before, during and after election.
As a whole, from Child Rights perspective Constituent
Assembly election was concluded in a peaceful manner except for
few incidents; different political parties used children for various
purposes in the election process (before, during and after election).
Major political parties had pointed out that children constitute
almost half of the nation's population and had included children's
issues in their manifestos. Nevertheless, many examples of violating
code of conduct by using children for election activities were
seen during the election.
This brief report has been published on the
information collected during Constituent Assembly monitoring throughout
the country.
Districts monitored
by CWIN
CWIN-Nepal observed in different areas in coordination
with NEOC, KEOC, JEOC, DEAN and NEMA during Constituent Assembly
election. CWIN observed in Morang, Sunsari, Makwanpur, Parsa,
Chitwan, Baglung, Dhading, Tanahun, Hetauda, Kaski, Rupendhehi,
Banke, Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Nuwakot
and in 15 constituencies - ten in Kathmandu, three in Lalitpur
and two in Bhakapur district. In addition CWIN on its own initiation
monitored on Child Rights violations before, during and after
election in the above mentioned districts.
Use of children during
Constituent Assembly election
Most of the political parties used children
in publicity campaigns, casting votes for their parties and victory
rallies, even though they had committed on not using children
in any process of Constituent Assembly election against their
best interest. Likewise, most of the political parties violated
code of conduct Article 23 of Election Commission.
There has been an increment in the awareness
on the use of children.. During the Election Day monitoring, no
violence affecting children was found. In comparison to past election
this year the fewer children were used for foul voting. Nevertheless,
many children were used as volunteers by political parties and
Election Commission in different districts for giving drinking
water to the voters, helping voters to stand in queue, search
the voter's name on the list and put the ink on voter's thumb.
In some districts children also cast their votes. In some districts
children's names were on the voter's list whereas in other areas
children cast vote in the name of adults and dead parents.
- Children below 12 years were used as
speakers by major political parties during mass gatherings,
according to the news published in different National Daily
newspapers. Similarly, various political parties used children
in publicity campaigns and cultural programs.
- According to the representatives of
National Election Observation Committee (NEOC), most of the
major political parties used children in rallies dressed in
T-shirts and caps displaying party's logo and carrying party's
flag in Saptari, Parvat, Siraha, Nawalparasi, Arghakhanchi,
Dhanusha, Achham and Banke districts.
- Some parties used children above 14 years
as volunteers.
| Most of the children
above 14 years cast their votes in Kavrepalanchowk constituency
no. 1. According to 15 year old boy, many children below his
age cast their votes in the same booth as him. He knew that
according to child rights, children below 18 years should
not cast vote. However, he cast his vote out of family pressure.
He said: "first I was in fear and terror while casting
the vote, but when I saw other small children also casting
their votes I was not frightened anymore". He further
said that nobody (representatives of political parties and
staffs of Election Commission) stopped him casting vote. He
said "Children were casting their votes, no one complained
about it". He also told that "I was happy there
will be no more violence or that the violence will end in
the country after voting". |
| Children around 10-11
years cast their votes in Taramarang booth of Sidhuplachowk
constituency no. 3. All the voters whose names were on the
list were given the permission to cast vote in parties' agreement.
But the staffs deployed by Election Commission and election
observers helplessly watched children casting votes as their
names were on the list. No one showed concern while 14 year
old boy cast vote in the name of his dead mother (38 years).
In that particular booth more than hundred children, between
10-11 years, cast votes. But all these children's names were
on the list. In that booth voters were allowed to cast vote
without any identity card, and children were used as volunteers. |
|
15 year old boy went to see election at polling booth with
his father in Katakuti, Dolakaha. His name was also in the
voter's list. He was extremely terrified while casting vote.
He said "But what to do? Everyone asked me to vote
so I voted".
Similarly, before the Election Day students of class 8
and 9 aged around 15-16 years walked in a group (10-15 in
a group) with sticks in their hands. That group was giving
psychological pressure to the voters standing far from polling
booth on Election Day as their names were not in the list.
The political parties used many children in mass gathering,
rally, cultural programs, publicity campaign and door to
door campaign in Dolakha constituency no. 1 and 2.
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In Tanahun constituency no. 2, 15 year old girl was used
as volunteer in Janajukta Shahi Secondary School polling
booth where she was studying.
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Avenues television showed children of Birgunj, Parsa casting
their votes during election.
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Why was no concern raised and why were the
children voting not stopped?
- It was found that
in the hope of getting more votes for their parties different
political parties had already made an agreement.
- There was also an agreement between the political
parties on a practice of casting vote if one's name was on the
voting list and often children voted if no one clamed the name
on the list.
- Election Commission could not take any action
if petition was not put in the Commission.
- Apart from Kathmandu, in other districts
voters didn't have to show identity card: only name and address
in the voter's list was enough. This made it easy for children
to cast votes.
- Similarly, many children's names were on
the voter's list, their age presented as over 18. Different
political parties and parents used children for gaining a victory.
In the village polling booths Children cast their votes freely
as there were fewer observers present, and they did not observe
for e long period.
The effects of use of children in the process
of voting by children
- Children can be in
unexpected risk when they are asked to cast their vote, if somebody
puts complaint against them.
- Children can face threat, fear and terror
resulting to psychosocial problems.
- Children can learn the culture of impunity,
by which their moral development can be affected.
- Children can become direct victims of violence
provoked by the illegal voting.
Suggestion
- The political parties
should be aware of not putting children's name on the list while
collecting voter's names. They should be committed on not writing
children's names. For the process of collecting voter's names,
Election Commission should develop a structure of cross-checking.
.If children's names are found or suspected to be on the list,
there should be a structure in place which enables to investigate
such cases.
- There should be clear commitment from the
part of political parties not to use children in election publicity
campaigns and this commitment should be implemented in practice.
The practice of taking immediate action against the use of children
should be started by Election Commission.
- There should be an amendment on how to regulate
the actions to be taken in case there is a complaint of children
being used by Election Commission and Election commission should
also develop a system of taking action through published news
or information received through their own resources.
- The system where political parties agree
on casting vote without age being mentioned on voter's list
needs to be abandoned.
- The cross-checking of cases where voters
are suspected to be under age needs to be developed. The practice
of checking identity card according to the need should be strongly
implemented.
- The Election officer and staffs should be
aware of the use of children.
- Parents and guardians should be aware and
actively stop the use of children.
- Children themselves should not participate
during publicity campaign and voting and should be aware that
they could be used by others.
- Individuals and organizations monitoring
the election should focus also on monitoring the use of children.
- All the concerned parties should be made
aware of the use of children and take action to end the system
where children are used for forged and illegal activities affecting
their physical and mental development.
CWIN Nepal wants to stress that children's
issues should be given equal importance amongst other political,
economical and social issues, as children constitute almost half
of the nation's population. We also appeal all the concerned parties
to ensure child rights in country's new constitution and valuable
participation of children in the process of making new constitution.
CWIN urges parties
not to use children in publicity campaign [TOP]
Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre
(CWIN-Nepal) urged different political parties not to use children
for election publicity. Addressing the audience at a press meeting,
Tarak Dhital from CWIN noted that the political parties were violating
the election code of conduct and were using children in their
election programs. He added that children were at risk the election
related violence having increased in the recent days. "The
political parties should not involve children for publicity,"
he stressed. He said that also the media should pressurize the
political parties to protect the rights of children and remind
them not to involve children in garnering votes. CWIN-Nepal asked
the election observation bodies to monitor the involvement of
children in election campaigns. What is more, CWIN-Nepal released
'Status of Children's Rights in Nepal -Annual Report 2008' during
the program. According to the report CWIN collected a total 8,800
events relating to child labour and child modalities. A total
of 184 children were directly affected from the political conflict
and out of them 21 children died, 15 were kidnapped, 39 injured
and 7 displaced. According to the report a total of 127,000 children
were working in risky conditions while 33 were taking shelter
in the jail with their parents. Total 40 reports related to child
marriage published in different media this year. Sumnima Tuladhar
said that some children's homes had not fulfilled the basic criteria
and children were exploited.
Source: The Rising Nepal, April
03, 08
Women, kids vulnerable
to TB [TOP]
The occurrence of tuberculosis is high among
women and small children according to doctors. Devendra Bahadur
Pradhan, chairperson of Nepal TB Control Centre said the incidents
of TB are increasing in small children and women, since the TB
bacteria infect weak persons and children easily. Speaking at
a program organized by Community support and Development Program,
with the support of Nepal TB Control Centre, the chairperson said
TB was an airborne infectious disease that can settle anywhere
in the body and damage our organs like throat and bones, not only
lungs.
Source: The Himalayan Times, April 2,
2008
Children
used in rally [TOP]
Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB) reported
children being used by most of the political parties during publicity
campaigns and victory rallies. According to Dharma Raj Shrestha,
executive director of CCWB, the monitoring teams reported political
parties using children for publicity campaigns throughout the
country. Major political parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist,
Janamorcha Nepal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party used children
in activities like mass gatherings and rallies. During the monitoring
CCWB pledged the candidates and representatives of political parties
not to use children and to respect Child Rights. Furthermore,
the monitoring teams reported children being used as volunteers
in polling booths, and being involved in victory rallies of the
candidates and parties. The detailed report will be prepared and
submitted to Election Commission.
Source: Rajdhani, April 17, 2008
Children
in prison [TOP]
48 children below 5 years of age are living
with their parents in 18 jails of different districts. The parents
have been convicted and as a result the children have joined them
in jail. Practically children live like the common prisoners,
despite the law clearly stating that children above 2 years are
to be kept in child protection homes. The head of prison management
department, Sthaneshwor Devkota argues that small children cannot
be separated from their parents and that the prisoners refuse
to send their children in child protection homes. The department
has made an agreement with child protection home in Sifal, Kathmandu.
Moreover, Devkota noted that Children above 5 years of age are
found in prison, even though prison management department claims
that those children are in child protection centres. The government
has provided facilities to those children similarly to other prisoners.
Food items are provided according to age: 100 grams rice and Rs.
10.00 for the children between 7 months to 1 year; 150 grams rice
and Rs. 10.00 for the children between 1 year to 3 years; 200
grams rice and Rs. 10.00 for the children between 3 years to 5
years; 250 grams rice and Rs. 10.00 for the children between 5
years to 7 years; 450 grams rice and Rs. 10.00 for the children
between 7 years to 12 years. The children also receive 2 pairs
of clothes like other prisoners. However, there are no such facilities
for the children aged below 7 months.
Source: Naya Patrika, April 17, 2008
Children
in brick kilns [TOP]
In the surrounding areas of Bardiya head-quarter,
Children of economically backward families are working in brick
kilns and drop out from school, most of them after completing
only the primary level. Children below 16 years are doing dangerous
work in brick kilns, approximately 105 children working under
risky circumstances in Pandey Construction, Pandey Brick and Himali
Brick factoties near Gulariya areas. Likewise, children from economically
poor background in Mathura, Haridwar, Aashapurwa, Parasiya and
Gulariya municipality are compelled to work in brick kilns after
completing primary level school.
District Education Office (DEO) announced that
the children of economically backward families have not left school.
District Education Officer Ram Prasad Upadhaya claimed that the
children are working during holidays. Furthermore, he argued that
instead of being deprived of schooling, initially all the children
come to school. However, some of them in their cupidity of receiving
money are not able to complete their studies. In contrast, children
working in brick kilns say that due to weak economic condition
they are not able to go to school. A 13 year old boy working in
brick kilns noted: 'Having interest going to school is not enough;
I am working because there is no money for my education'. Moreover,
he said that with his income he is able to support the family.
Children receive wages of Rs. 100.00 every day for making 500
bricks and taking out bricks from furnace. There is provision
made by government that children should not be used in hard and
dangerous work.
Source: Naya Patrika, April 17, 2008
School
enrolment campaign starts [TOP]
This year's nationwide school enrolment campaign,
seeking to ensure quality education for children across the country,
started from April 16, 2008. According to Mahashram Sharma, the
director of the Department of Education (DoE), the campaign will
run for three weeks aiming to increase primary level school enrolment
country wide. The government has been carrying out the campaign
for the past five years in order to meet the target of 'Education
for All' by 2015. Although the campaign focuses on primary level
education, this year's program named "Alternative Education
Programs" has provisioned special coaching classes to over-aged
students who have dropped out of school.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, April 17,
2008
Four kids go missing
every day in Valley [TOP]
As many as four children on an average go missing
each day in the Kathmandu Valley, according to statistics provided
by an agency. According to National Centre for Children at Risk
(NCCR), approximately 28 to 33 children are reported missing every
week in various parts of Kathmandu Valley. Most of these children
belong to families hailing from outside the Valley. Statistics
gathered by the NCCR said over 3,000 children, including 1,000
from outside Kathmandu Valley, had gone missing in the past one
year. Of them, only about 1,700 children were found, whereas 500
cases were left untracked as adequate details were not available.
The NCCR was established on December 8, 2006,
in the wake of growing instances of child kidnapping in Kathmandu
Valley. Ministry of Information and Communications, Nepal Police,
Social Welfare Council, Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Nepal
Red Cross Society, UNICEF Nepal, Association of International
NGOs and various child rights NGOs have been working in coordination
to help tracing missing children across the country.
Sharmila Thapa, program officer at the
NCCR, said that in some cases the NCCR was not informed after
missing children were found. "A total of 36 families in Kathmandu
are presently in regular contact with us for a follow up,"
she said. According to Police Inspector Malati Shahi, chief of
NCCR, the missing children in the Valley are aged between three
and 16 years. Most of the children over 10 years of age have been
forced into some of the worst forms of labour, or made to face
different other forms of exploitation, including sexual exploitation.
Inspector Shahi argued that carelessness from the part of parents
or guardians is the main reason why children go missing. "Children
are also found fleeing their homes due to poverty and family conflicts,"
she added.
Source: ekantipur.com, April 18, 2008
Press release
March 30, 2008
Let's
stop the use of children regarding election [TOP]
The issue of child protection has become urgently
important as the Constituent Assembly Election is approaching
and the political activities are increase. Article 23 of the Election
Code of Conduct clearly states that: "No children should
be made to participate in procession, rally or mass meetings and/or
be involved in campaigning or any kind of election related activities".
Likewise through their manifestos, the political parties have
given emphasis to the protection and development of children.
The political parties have already committed to the principle
of "Children are Zones of Peace". Despite these commitments,
children are used in processions, rallies, meetings and involved
as volunteers and speakers for the parties' interest. The use
of children for achieving political goals is unjustifiable and
goes against Child Rights.
CWIN-Nepal condemns such activities and pleads
the political parties not to use children in the future. Instead
we urge the parties to implement their commitments and respect
the Election Code of Conduct.
Press release
April 2, 2008
Constituent
Assembly Election and the issue of Child Protection [TOP]
In the context of an important historic Constituent
Assembly Election the political activities are increasing. Most
of the parties of the society are showing their concerns upon
the political activities and the phase of New Nepal is very near.
However, deplorable and violent incidents like fighting among
cadres of political parties during the election campaign and the
recent bomb blasts pose challenge to holding the election.
The Election Code of Conduct 2064 has been issued
with consent from all political parties to make the election well
organised and acceptable. Article 23 of the Election Code of Conduct
clearly states that: "No children should be made to participate
in procession, rally or mass meetings and/or be involved in campaigning
or any kind of election related activities". Nevertheless,
major political parties are violating this code of conduct. In
this context, the issue of child protection has become very important.
All the concerned stakeholders in the society should be alert
and active in protecting children. The role of media, which is
observing the election activities closely, will be essential in
this. Accordingly, it is necessary to publicise the incidents
of Code of Conduct violations and put continuous pressure to political
parties for correction.
We request all to protect children from negative
effects caused by election activities. It is also necessary to
build new culture in favour of Child Rights in the process of
building New Nepal. We appeal all to fulfill their duty to protect
children, adopting the following measures:
Children:
Children should be aware of Constituent Assembly
Election and issues of children to be addressed by Constituent
Assembly. The views of children should be respected in the process
of building New Nepal. However, children should be aware that
people with vested interests can misuse them and put them in risk.
Parents:
Parents should protect their children making
them aware of possible harm and misuse of their children for any
election activities. Parents should be alert of any violent incidents
that may take place in order to protect their children.
Political parties:
Children must not be used in any activities
related to election campaign by political parties. They have responsibility
to follow the Election Code of Conduct and translate their commitments
with regards to protection of children's rights into action.
Election Commission:
Special attention, monitoring and reasonable
action should be taken to pursue the Article 23 of Election code
of conduct. The issue of children should be given priority during
election awareness campaign.
Election Observers:
Election observers should observe the use of
children by the vested interest groups to fulfil their political
goals, and monitor the activities that affect children directly
before and also after election.
Media:
Media should be more alert, collect facts and
publicise the incidents of use of children in the election and
child rights violations, and put pressure to concerned parties
to respect child rights
Government and Security force:
They should take immediate action mobilising
local structures regarding any incidents of Child Right violations
which may take place during the election. Moreover, they should
give priority for the protection of children from any incident.
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