"Ilam Declaration for Protection and Promotion of Child rights 2074" has been held on 7th January, 2018 in Ilam. The declaration has been made as minimum commitment for the child rights which will be adopted immediately by the local governments in Province -1. Members of province parliament, chiefs and deputies of District Coordination Committees, Mayors & deputies of Municipalities, Presidents and deputies of Rural Municipalities, political parties' leaders, officials and representatives of government offices, NGO activists, child club representatives jointly signed on the declaration.
It is said that in the preamble of the declaration that "We from Province No 1, members of provincial parliaments, Members of province parliament, chiefs and deputies of District Coordination Committees, Mayors & deputies of Municipalities, Presidents and deputies of Rural Municipalities, and representatives of stakeholders embracing the rights provisioned by the constitution of Nepal and the Local Government act we express our commitment to implement the following points with this Ilam declaration."
The declaration has 13 points. The first point made compulsory child clubs in every schools including a protection teacher. Point 2 made at least a child desk with a focal person should be established in each municipality. Likewise, point 3 prioritizes to work on vulnerable children and victims of several types of violence. Immediate action for the victims of violence and risk and ensuring child friendly services are assure in point 4. Point 5 specifies the priority to the age based needs, sexual minorities and support to the girls. Community awareness to reduce violence and promote child rights is focused on point 6.
Point 7 prioritized the incorporation of child rights in school curricula in step wise basis. The curricula are immediately incorporated in school annual academic calendar and will be added in curricula in education policy of the local and provincial government. Management and record keeping, data and status by local level is managed in point 8.
Point 9 highlighted the priority to be given immediately for school as peace education and child friendly local level. Likewise, formulation and execution of child rights and child protection guideline & policy in each local level is ensured in point 10. Point 11 managed the cooperation, coordination, collaboration and joint venture support for child rights between local level and NGOs. Similarly, point 12 emphasizes that there will be the leading role of local government for the management of resource. The last point made the execution of this declaration with leading role of District Coordination Committee in respective district immediately.
In the closing, HURF president Mohan Singh expressed that the signed declaration has now hit the goal of HURF campaign and now our campaign will be focused to strengthen the local government to implement the declaration.
President of Central Children Welfare board chief guest Ms Subina Shrestha expressed that the declaration has made province 1 a step ahead in Nepal. The declaration is a model for other province and also became a strong document for federal policy making.
HURF Nepal with support of Kindermissionswerk, Germany and with coordination of the Central Child Welfare Board organized the workshop under its child project.
