Kathmandu, December 19:

Seeking measures to prevent labour and sexual exploitment of children, 36 girl children working as labourers came up with a 15-point Kathmandu Declaration today.

The declaration has called for strong legal provisions to end various forms of child exploitation, including sexual exploitation. It has appealed to the State, representatives of civil society and organisations working for children to consult child labourers, especially girls, before organising programmes and formulating policies on child labourers. “As the child labourers are aware of the situation and problems, they should be consulted while organising programmes and formulating relevant policies.”

Children working in hazardous sectors should be immediately rescued and working hours should be set, it said. “Alternative arrangements should be made before removing child labourers from the labour market.” Initiatives should be taken to safeguard child labourers’ rights, the declaration said, calling for the introduction of timely and practical education programmes for the child labourers.