National Child Protection Alliance Nepal Conducted an Interaction Workshop on “Integration Child Protection, School Safety and School Zone of Peace with Security System” at Lalitpur Nepal. The Program was chaired by Ms. Writu Bhatta Rai, Chair Person of NCPA. 30 Participants representing Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Public Service Commission, National Child Rights Council, Nepal Army, Nepal Forced Police, Nepal Police, Child Right Network and Civil Society Organizations were present in the program.
The program was hosted by Secretary of NCPA Mr. Prakash Khatiwada, and the welcome remarks were provided by vice chair Bhim Lal Gurung. Ms. Writu Bhatta Rai , chair of NCPA, highlighted the objectives of the program.
Mr. Milan Dharel, child right activist provided presentation on Child Rights and Security Engagement: Integrating Child Protection in Rule of Engagement. He also emphasized the need for proper adoption of CFLG strategy by giving special attention to the need of the children.
Mr. Tilottam Paudel, Chair of National CFLG Forum and National Coalition for Girls Rights and Social Protection Civil Society Network raised the concern about the security system not being sensible towards children’s issue and shared his past experience of working in conflict situation in Nepal, urging for incorporating child right issue in the curriculum and training for security personnel. Ms. Maju Khatiwada, Deputy Director from National Human Right Commission highlighted the recommendation made to Government of Nepal by NHRC such as no use of school buildings, no use of police dress in SEE exam monitoring, not to use the children in armed conflict and political purposes and so on.
Under Secretary of Ministry of Education, Mr. Yubaraj Paudel expressed that the ministry is attentive to creating child friendly school and ensuring child protection, and added that families must allocate enough time for their children.
Mr. Shalikaram Bhushal, representative of Ministry of Education Science and Technology also highlighted the need of incorporating security and child protection topics in curriculum with proper coordination with Security system. Mr. Narayan Prasad Gyawali, representative of Public Service Commission shared the need to add child protection, child safety and children zone of peace related questionnaire of examination of the Public Service Commissions.
Director General of CHERD, Dr. Tulsi Thapaliya, also emphasized on the cultivation of security system in Nepal and requirement of complain handling system. Ms. Jyoti Rana from World Education also added on the need of incorporating Child right issues in curriculum of Security system and exams taken by Public service commission.
Mr. Rajan Burlakoti from UNICEF Nepal spoke regarding the urgent need of attention of concerned stakeholder in the children’s issue, focusing on the multiple needs of girls and proper implementation of Laws and policy.
Mr. Sushil Pyakurel, Former Member of Human Right Commission and Advisor of President of Nepal shared that laws are to protect the rights of people and the duty bearers are responsible for implementation and realization of laws.
SSP Mr. Mukunda Acharya, emphasize on the need of children section on the police system, requirement of discussion at provincial and local level. SSP Prem Raj Pokhrel, Armed Police Force shared some of good practices within their organization such as no use of child labor, breast feeding room for female staffs, child care center in their institutions, curriculum on child rights for their staffs. Major Samjahana Shrestha, Nepal Army shared that there is provision for child right and protection in their institution and training has been provided to staffs. At the end of workshop, Ms. Helen Sherpa, thanked all the participants for their presence and urged for the attention of security system on Child rights and child protection.
