On the same day, UNICEF Nepal is also going to celebrate four decades of partnership in the country. UNICEF’s liaison office (a one-person office) in Nepal was established in 1968. UNICEF had begun operations in Nepal four years earlier from its New Delhi office. The full-fledged UNICEF office in Kathmandu opened in 1972 to support government efforts to provide much needed basic services to Nepali children.
UNICEF’s regional offices in Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj, will also be celebrating the “dui chaar utsav” with various events within December, 2009.
Myrepublica.com talked to Gillian Mellsop, Country Representative of UNICEF to Nepal, ahead of the milestone celebrations to talk on various facets of CRC and UNICEF’s experiences in Nepal.
Excerpts:
Myrepublica.com: What has been the experience of UNICEF while working for four decades in Nepal?
Nepal has seen a dramatic decrease in child mortality rates. At the time of UNICEF’s inception in 1968, the child mortality rate was 250 in 1000. Today, these figures are 61 in 1000.
Gillian Mellsop: Summing up the extensive work UNICEF has undertaken since its 1968 inception in a few paragraphs is a difficult task. Each decade marked significant changes and represented different challenges, approaches and focuses for the organization.
In the 1960s, for example, UNICEF was instrumental in promoting education for girls with the establishment of girls’ hostels. The 1970s were a decade in which innovative gravity-fed water systems were implemented, setting a standard across the world.
UNICEF’s focus shifted to child survival and development in the 1980s, with the Expanded Immunisation Programme and the Oral Rehydration Solution campaign – Noon, Chini, Paani (Salt, Sugar, Water) making headway in the reduction of deaths from diarrhea.
Women’s empowerment marked the 80s through the UNICEF-supported Production Credit for Rural Women program implemented by the Women Development Section, Ministry of Local Development, and in the 90s through the Department of Women Development, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. We worked with numerous community-based women’s organizations to empower people at grassroots level, the paralegal committees proving highly effective in the mission to address violence against women and children.
Nepal witnessed the turn of the millennium against a backdrop of political instability and societal unrest. UNICEF responded by launching the concept of “Children as a Zone of Peace” to protect children from the impact of the conflict. Building on its Humanitarian and Rights-based Programming, UNICEF supported education campaigns such as Welcome-To-School and Out of School programs for those deprived of mainstream education, which proved highly beneficial for the children of Nepal.
Myrepublica.com: How successful has UNICEF been in changing the lives of Nepali children in these four decades?
Mellsop: Nepal has seen a dramatic decrease in child mortality rates. At the time of UNICEF’s inception in 1968, the child mortality rate was 250 in 1000. Today, these figures are 61 in 1000. Factors which have contributed to this dramatic reduction include UNICEF- supported programs through the Ministry of Health and Population, such as the Expanded Program of Immunization, biannual vitamin A and deworming distribution, and community-based treatment of Acute Respiratory Infections and Diarrhea, all of which are supported by Nepal’s uniquely successful Female Community Health Workers.
In addition, UNICEF’s support for the provision of safe water systems across the country since the 1970s has ensured greater child survival rates.
In terms of child protection, community-based protection networks set up in many districts have helped raise awareness on child and women’s rights, enabling a quicker and more effective response to situations of violence, exploitation and abuse.
The establishment of the UNICEF-supported Production Credit for Rural Women program in 1983 strengthened women’s groups by providing training and helping to strengthen women’s federations in 35 districts, as well as adult literacy classes. This led to working with women in community organizations in the spirit of decentralization and helped empower communities to achieve results for children, through UNICEF’s current flagship program: Decentralized Action for Children and Women (DACAW), which was implemented by the Ministry of Local Development. This program has been instrumental in improving the situation of children and women in 23 districts. Under the program, UNICEF has coordinated paralegal programs in these districts which, besides empowering women, deal with many child protection issues, such as child marriage, domestic violence, trafficking and child labor.
Among early education initiatives supported by UNICEF was the production and distribution of free textbooks for all children in the 1970s. The Welcome-To-School program was introduced to 23 districts in the 2000s, providing an incentive for children to attend school, thereby increasing enrolment numbers. The program proved so successful the Ministry of Education has now replicated it nationally. In addition, UNICEF has supported construction work on schools for their physical improvement.
Through UNICEF’s support, Nepal will meet the World Summit for Children’s 2015 micronutrients goal in terms of provision of iodized salt, vitamin A, iron and folic acid supplements for children and women.
Myrepublica.com: Has Nepal adhered to the CRC at present? If not, what is UNICEF doing to support the government do so?
Mellsop: The UN General Assembly adopted the CRC in 1989 and Nepal ratified in 1990. It is the most widely-ratified human rights treaty in history with only the USA and Somalia yet to ratify. In 2007, Nepal ratified the two optional protocols on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the involvement of children in armed conflict. Nepal’s legislation has been revised to align with the CRC and the government has demonstrated its commitment to creating an environment that fulfils child rights by drafting a new Child Rights Protection and Promotion Bill. This Bill is aligned with the CRC and other international standards and is a major piece of legislation that will influence the whole child protection system. But, as is the case in many developing countries, there is much more to be done and there are significant challenges with regard to implementation of child rights policies and legislation.
Greater inter-ministerial collaboration is required in Nepal with respect to children’s issues and there are successful initiatives in this regard. For example, the government, with UNICEF’s support, has developed an interministerial National Plan of Action for Children Affected by Armed Conflict under the leadership of the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.
There has been a drive for greater cohesion within and between child rights organizations in Nepal and UNICEF facilitates a range of child rights work with other UN agencies, the Nepal Government and civil society, examples being the Mine Action and Children Affected by Conflict Working groups.
Myrepublica.com: How can child labor be completely stopped in Nepal? What is UNICEF doing in this respect?
Mellsop: Compulsory quality education combined with livelihood programs for families of child laborers are key in combating child labor. Regrettably, this is not going to happen overnight. UNICEF works with the government and partners to provide Non-formal Education, Out-of-School programs and psychosocial support for child laborers that enable them to mainstream into the formal education system.
UNICEF is also supporting the government to develop child-sensitive social protection systems, aimed at preventing children becoming child laborers. The government’s soon-to-be-introduced Child Grant for children in the Karnali zone is an example in this regard.
Myrepublica.com: What is UNICEF doing about safeguarding rights of children in the new constitution to be made in the near future? Are there any Nepal-specific clauses that can be kept in it?
Mellsop: UNICEF has worked in partnership with two major child rights organizations (Children as Zone of Peace and a Consortium of Organizations working on child participation) to bring the voice of the children to the Constituent Assembly through an expert submission on Child Rights. The Fundamental Rights Committee has incorporated most of the expert submission’s recommendations on child rights in their draft concept paper. If these recommendations on child rights are accepted, Nepal’s constitution will be one of the most child-friendly in the world. However, there are three recommended child rights provisions that have not been addressed, namely:
• The right of the child to participate and express their views in all matters affecting them;
• The right not to be used directly or indirectly in conflict or manipulated or coerced for political purposes;
• The establishment of an independent human rights institution, such as a children’s ombudsperson or commissioner with a broad child rights mandate.
UNICEF, together with our partners, are advocating for these important child rights provisions to be included in the constitution
Myrepublica.com: What is UNICEF planning to do for the Maoist combatants disqualified on grounds of being minor?
Mellsop: UNICEF is advocating for the release of minors from cantonments in collaboration with the government, UN agencies and civil society.
We are ready to support the government with the rehabilitation and social reintegration of minors from the cantonments and provide the government with technical support to enable it to meet international standards in this regard.
In partnership with other members of the Children Affected by Armed Conflict Working Group, we are providing rehabilitation support to 7,500 children formerly associated with armed forces and groups, as well as their families and communities.
Myrepublica.com: What is your evaluation of the present status of children in Nepal? How optimistic are you about better days for Nepali children with the end of the conflict?
Mellsop: There have been significant improvements in the status of children in Nepal over the past 40 years since UNICEF’s inception and with the end of the conflict the situation of children is slowly improving.
But there are still many challenges. Too many Nepali children still die of easily preventable causes, still lack protection, quality education, food, shelter and clean water and still face poverty and discrimination. Chronic malnutrition and child protection (particularly in the areas of child labor, child marriage, trafficking, street children and gender-based violence) remain major concerns.
But UNICEF remains optimistic that the situation for children will continue to improve, as the peace process and the new constitution provide significant opportunities to progress children’s rights in Nepal.
premdhakal@myrepublica.com
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