Call for child rights protection and end of child labor

The National Knowledge Conference has recommended five points of immediate attention, including the need to expand and strengthen child rights and child protection system to end child labor.

During the two-day conference organized by Freedom Campaign Nepal in collaboration with various organizations, the necessity of activities, cooperation and coordination of concerned organizations, bodies and civil societies to end child labor were mentioned.

Expansion and strengthening of child rights and child protection system to end child labor, legal provision of child rights and child protection services provided by child rights act at all local levels, formation and operation of child rights committee, establishment and operation of child fund, provision of child welfare officer and child psychologist and It is mentioned that it is necessary to expedite the implementation of the system of listing and mobilization of social workers.

Similarly, the Child Helpline Service (1098) and Child Tracing Service (104) have played an effective role in rescuing and protecting children at risk and those involved in child labor. It is mentioned that the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens as well as the National Council for the Rights of the Child should give priority to the expansion and operation of Child Tracing Service (104) in each province.

As the management of temporary protection services and alternative care services for the protection and rehabilitation of children at risk and those rescued from child labor will be important, it is necessary to expand to the district levels and implement the provision of grant assistance from local and state governments for such services in a practical manner.

Due to the open border between Nepal and India, statistics show that Nepali children are working in India and Indian children are working as laborers in different parts of Nepal and in the labor sector. Due to the lack of systematic and legal process for rescue, protection and repatriation of children between Nepal and India, the protection of children through unofficial civic organizations is taking place to a limited extent. The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and the National Council for the Rights of the Child need to formulate and implement special procedures and systems for rescuing child laborers across the border.

Currently, there are 1.1 million children engaged in labor within Nepal.