Bhaktapur, March 28:

With a view to developing guidelines to run the Child Correction Centre (CCC), Underprivileged Children’s Education Programme (UCEP) under the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, collected suggestions from the children at the CCC, their parents and authorities.

Rajaram Subbian, a psychosocial consultant from India and Dr Sishir Subba, associate professor at the Central Department of Psychology, Tribhuvan University, developed guidelines through discussions, consultation with children, their families, police personnel and staffers at the CCC and the National Police Academy.

The minimum age for criminal responsibility in Nepal is 10. The CCC, which was introduced in 2001, is part of the government’s commitment to address child rights CCC Operation Procedure, 2001, and international legal instruments such as Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989.

Subbian said at a programme today: “Like other children, they also have aspirations. They want opportunities to pursue higher studies, computer education and vocational training.”

Children said they needed to be listened to, trusted, and given responsibilities, Subbian said. The children were against corporal punishment and said they should be protected from abuse at the hands of staff and security forces.

Bhaktapur English School is providing education and teaching support to these children.

“There should be psychological assessment of every child, psychometry for identified children, social milieu of CCC to be child-friendly to make it therapeutically effective,” Subbian said.

Govinda Adhikary, president, UCEP, said, “Children need to be supported to get back into mainstream of life within their community and develop positive attitude towards community and vice versa.”

Children demanded skilled counsellors, proper rules and regulations, separate schools with trained teachers, supportive police and privacy in the centre.