By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Sept. 16 : Defense Minister Ishwor Pokharel on Sunday assured that the state would soon take guardianship to homeless children and ensure they would enjoy their fundamental rights.

The government has been working to introduce special programmes for children who need special care and protection, he added. Addressing an event organised by the Minister of Women Children and Senior Citizen on the occasion of National Children’s Day, he said the state was committed in to ensuring development and protection of child rights.

The new constitution, acts and polices of Nepal are child friendly as they had adopted the spirit of UN Convention on Child Rights and other international treaties ratified by Nepal, said the Minister.

The country has gained momentum on child rights protection since it ratified UN Convention on Child Rights in September 15, 1990, he added.

“Before ratifying the protocol of UN Convention on Child Rights, there were only few provisions on child rights. But now the constitution has ensured children’s rights to live, protection, personal development and rights to participation,” he added.

He further stated that the government has adopted zero tolerance policy against child rights violations, abuse and all forms of discrimination.

Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen Tham Maya Thapa said though the government had made a progress in child rights and protection, Nepali children were still facing discrimination, abuse, rape, murder, violation, child marriage, trafficking, corporal punishment and other.

A lot of efforts to be done in this sector, said Thapa adding that every family, society, government and non-government bodies are responsible should be sensitive towards child rights.

Addressing the same event, Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen said after ratifying the protocol of UN convention, the government has been prioritizing the issues of children and gained positive stride in the sector.

The overall indicators of child rights has proved this fact, said Ghimire adding that the gross enrollment rate in primary level has been increased to 97.5 per cent in 2075 B.S, from 64 per cent before 1990. According to Ghimire, the ratio of girls to boys in secondary level (9-10 class) was 0.53 per cent before 1990, while this ratio has reached 1.09 till 2018.

Similarly, the students appearing at school leaving certificate (SLC) exam before 2050 B.S was 79,420 and reached 485,500 in 2018, he added. While at the same time, the new born mortality rate before 1990 was 50 in per 1,000 live births and now it is 21 in per 1,000 in 2019.

Likewise, the infant mortality rate was 108 in per 1,000 infants and now it has reached to 32 per 1,000 and the child mortality has now reached to 38 children from 162 per 1,000 before 1990.

Nepal has also been successful to decrease the malnutrition rate among children, said Ghimire adding that Nepal has already been awarded for this stride made in the field of child health.

Other speakers have also highlighted the need to protect welfare of children and give them opportunities to grow up happy and safe. To take part in the event, children from all seven provinces have reached Kathmandu. The children from all background were provided opportunities to show off their artistic abilities.

Every year Bhadra 29 is observed as National Children’s Day in Nepal. On 14th September 1990, Nepal had signed and approved the protocol passed by UN Convention on Child Rights.

To commemorate the day, Nepal started to mark 29th Bhadra as the National Children’s Day since 2006. The child rights is one of the fundamental rights. Nepal is Bhadra 29 in the Nepali calendar every year as the National Children’s Day since 1990.