Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: The national convergence of working children
recently concluded in Kathmandu which
brought 11 working children members of
Secreatriate formed and brought the
Kathmandu Declaration.
National Convergence of Working Children - November 22-23, 2000
Kathmandu Declaration
Nepalese children are involved in more than 80 informal sectors of work.
Children from 6 to 18 years are involved the works. Of the total national
labour force, 25% are generated from the children alone. These child
workers contribute about 10% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the
Nepalese economy. However, the child workers are not able to utilize our
basic rights as an individual. Existing laws and legislations are not
protecting us as children and as workers. As we have frail and feeble
voices, we are economically exploited, physically abused, neglected and
constantly harassed. Concerned stakeholders have either failed to address
our situations or implement the related policies.
The National Convergence of working children is a first of its kind in the
history of Child Rights Movement in Nepal.
There is a long history of value and culture that respect the work and
workers in Nepalese society and culture. But, certain sections of society
has perceived the notion that working children are not part of normal
society as they belong to indecent jobs, habits and families. Such negative
beliefs have contributed in increasing the discrimination against working
children. Our age old value laid on work and workers is challenged. And, it
is invading the basic Nepali beliefs that working class and workers are the
backbone of the families, communities as well as a nation.
On this context, National Convergence of Working Children was formally
launched among a formal program on November 22 and 23 Kathmandu.
Concern for Children and Environment-Nepal (CONCERN-Nepal), Child
Workers in Nepal (CWIN), Underprivileged Children's Association-Nepal
(UPCA), General Federation of Nepalese trade Unions (GEFONT) and Save
the Children Norway-Nepal collaboratively organized the historic event. The
event has formed a Working Committee consisting 11 mebmers
representing various work sectors and different regions of the country.
The programme was inaugurated by honorable Chief Guest Mr. Urwa Dutta
Pant, State Minister of Transportation & Labour. The program held at Nepal
Chamber Hall, Jamal, Kathmandu was chaired by Mr. Ajit Maharjan also a
restaurant worker himself. Mr. Bijay Sainju, Executive Chairperson
CONCERN-Nepal, Tarak Dhittal of CWIN, Mr. Peter Dalglish, Chief Technical
Advisor of ILO/IPEC, Mr. Valter Tinderhalt and Mr. Bishnu Rimal, General
Secretary of GEFONT wished the program grand success and pledged their
commitment to fight on the causes of child labour. Miss Minu Thapa,
another working child expressed her views.
Working Children representing 17 different work sectors organized under
children’s forums from all over the country participated in the two days
close session. The discussions among the children have drawn following
outcomes that has been named as “Kathmandu Declaration of National
Convergence of Working Children” to be communicated intensively among
concerned organizations/groups/individuals:
We are capable than other privileged children, organized in comparison
and more exposed to not only formal education but also life skills. So many
families are dependant on us and we are living on our own. We are
capable of identifying our problems and deal with it in amalgamated voice.
Our action plans would be as given below with following understandings
and which would definitely contribute in transforming the present situation
of working children.
1. Economic depravity is not only factor contributing to the growth of child
labour and its continuation. Age old stereotype social norms, illiteracy,
caste discrimination, unregulated government policies have directly or
indirectly augmented the growth and continuation of child labors.
2. Occupational hazards, physical and mental stress, economic exploitation,
neglect and harassment we face in our work and working areas affecting
our physical and mental development and even leaving us physically
challenged have to be immediately stopped and those culprits should be
leally punished and socially excluded.
3. Pressurize the authorities for the basic rights of working children like
education, hygienic food, proper clothing. and compensate the victim
workers those who happen to meet accidents in their works.
4. Organizations those involved in promotion and realization of the rights
of the children are requested to demonstrate their commitment to the
participation rights of working children by consulting the children from the
stage of identification of needs to the project monitoring and evaluation in
practical sense.
5. Treat the working children as the able citizens in the process of
transformation of the society. Therefore provide them opportunities by
inviting them in all related sectors and help them galvanize their voices.
6. Bring end to the discrimination against working children based on the
caste and other factors.
7. Create pressure for the minimization of the child labour exploitation in
order to assure the basic rights of the working children.
8. Take initiatives with government and concerned for the compensation of
those suffer from accidents causing physical or mental disability of working
children.
9. Pressurize the concerned sectors for the implementation of conventions
and laws related to child labour.
10. Demand for the resumption of peace in the country. In any pretext,
both the conflicting parties are not allowed to involve children in the on
going armed conflict in any form.
National Alliance of Working Chidlren Secretariat
C/O CONCERN Kalimati Centre
Kalimati Rd. Ward No. 13
GPO Bx 4543
Kathmandu
Nepal