Kathmandu, December 15:

A group of child representatives from across the country today met Speaker Subas Nembang and submitted a letter, which outlines their 12-point agenda to be addressed by the State for the welfare of children.

The agenda was prepared by sixty-three children from 48 districts during a two-day national meet on ‘Children’s Participation in the Constitution Making Process’. The meet was organised by a consortium of organisations working for children’s rights.

During the meeting, participants raised issues pertaining to children’s education and appealed to the authorities concerned to ensure free, practical, skill-oriented and quality education up to secondary level and to give extra attention to girls’ education.

They also demanded facilities for Madrasas, Gumbas and Gurukuls on par with the facilities of government schools. They sought to declare schools, child clubs and other areas as zone of peace and put the idea into practice.

The 12-point agenda calls for easy access for children to heath services and medical treatments and education and other facilities for differentially-abled children.

It calls for a ban on children’s participation in armed and political activities and protection for the children affected from conflict.

The meet also outlines the need for at least one juvenile bench and correction home in each district; protection for kids form all types of violence and discriminations; participation of children in policy making, planning and implementation; ban on rituals

and social practices like child marriage, trafficking, Chhaupadi, Kamlhari that have

negative impact on the children and children’s participation in the new constitution making process.

During the two-day meet, representatives of eight political parties had expressed commitment to ensure children’s rights at the programme.

The organisations hosting the meeting include Plan Nepal, Save The Children Alliance, Action Aid Nepal, UNICEF, World Vision International and National Human Rights Commission.