World Children’s Day: NHRC calls for improved child rights

KATHMANDU: The World Children’s Day is being marked throughout the world today, with the theme – “Listen to the Future. Stand Up for Children’s Rights.”

On this occasion, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on all citizens, guardians, political parties, and rights activists to work towards ensuring the protection of children’s rights.

In a press statement, NHRC Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel urged the government at all levels to create a conducive environment for implementing the provisions related to children’s rights in the Constitution, laws, and various conventions. He also stressed the need to take action against those responsible for violations of child rights, ensuring children’s basic rights, promoting their welfare, systematically operating child correction homes, and implementing child-friendly initiatives.

The NHRC highlighted its ongoing monitoring of the status of child rights and pointed to positive state initiatives such as the rescue of child workers, the establishment of the Child Labor Prevention Fund, daycare services, and meal programs for children.

However, the NHRC expressed concerns over the deprivation of dependent children in prisons from their human rights, the absence of child-friendly correction homes, inadequate standards in day meal programs, and the lack of a supportive environment for children in families and society. Additionally, the NHRC called for stronger action against perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

Since 1954, at the call of the United Nations, November 20 has been observed as World Children’s Day. The NHRC extended its best wishes to all children and child rights activists on this occasion.