Kathmandu, September 28:

The National Coalition for Children as Zones of Peace today appealed to the students’ wing of the CPN-UML, All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), to roll back the decision to set up a children’s wing and open membership to the students between Classes I and VII.

The appeal came after ANNFSU’s newly-elected president Thakur Gaire, at the national convention of the ANNFSU, announced that the student union would be expanded at the school level, too.

The coalition said, “The decision to involve children in party politics at a young age is in violation of child rights. Such decisions would affect the children’s rights to pursue education, independently participate in the activities and also affect their development.”

Noting that political parties, including the CPN-UML, have expressed commitment to recognise the children and schools as Zones of Peace, the ANNFSU’s decision to set up the children’s wing goes against the commitment, it said.