On June 23rd the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurated a meeting involving the Ministers from the nodal Ministry dealing with children’s issues from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The purpose of the meeting was to endorse the decision to establish a strong regional centre to address violence against children entitled, “The South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAEIVAC)”. SAIEVAC’s vision is that all children, girls and boys, throughout South Asia enjoy their right to an environment free from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination.
A SAIEVAC Governing Board will be established to supervise and oversee SAIEVAC’s work. The governing board is made up of Government Representatives Child Representatives, international agency representatives, and civil society representatives from the SAIEVAC member countries. A permanent SAIEVAC Secretariat will be based in Nepal and hosted by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal stated, “Today I call on the Ministers and government representatives from across the region to seriously consider the proposal and recommendations being put before you. Let us not miss the opportunity to have a serious impact for children. Let’s take our commitments to the next level and turn them into valuable actions. We can demonstrate to each other and the world how collaboration and partnership can pave the way to sustainable and long-term solutions for ending violence against children.”
Sarv Dev Prasad Ojha, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Government of Nepal stated that, “The Government of Nepal is very happy that the Permanent Secretariat of the South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) will be based in Nepal. This initiative is a huge step forward for the South Asian Region. Not only are we pioneering a new approach to regional cooperation but we are taking massive strides together to end violence against children.”
SAIEVAC will implement a workplan to end violence against children at regional and national level. The SAIEVAC workplan reflects the commitment of SAARC Government’s to address the enormous scale and urgency of violence against children in all forms and is a strategic framework to coordinate, standardize, and monitor progress annually. This workplan supports the development of effective and comprehensive child protection systems, and addresses key issues for the region including child labour, sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking, corporal punishment, and child marriage.
SAIEVAC will continue to support the meaningful participation of children so that they can prevent and monitor violence against children, make recommendations and be involved in decision-making processes for actions to end violence against children.
SAIEVAC is a global pioneer initiative driven by governments throughout the region. It engages a range of stakeholders including children, INGOs, UN Agencies and civil society in an innovative and collaborative manner to have greater impact across the region.
Violence against girls and boys is a permeating problem in all South Asian countries. In South Asia, violence against children occurs throughout all walks of life, among all cultural, religious, ethnic and geographical income groups and in all settings including homes, communities, schools, workplaces, institutions, on the streets, and within the juvenile justice system.
Frequent natural disasters, political strife, civil unrests and armed insurgencies are widespread and delay the implementation of development and child protection plans. High incidence of poverty and discrimination in the South Asia region means many children have limited access to basic social services in vital sectors such as health, water, and education. In the Region violence is also perpetuated by harmful traditional practices, such as child marriage and societal based gender biases. Issues such as child trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, and child labour are also of particular concern in the region.
Download the recommendations endorsed at the meeting: