The event chaired by Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, Vice-Chair of National Planning Commission inaugurated the ceremony held on Monday, March 5, in presence of UNICEF Representative Hanaa Singer.[break]
“When people think of poverty, they tend to focus on a child in a remote rural village but it’s a different case in reality.
Although cities offer many children, the advantages of urban schools, clinics, and playgrounds, the same cities witness great disparities in children’s health, education and opportunities,” states the press release.
According to the “State of the Rights of the Child in Nepal 2004” report, 5,000 children are living or working on the streets. NGO’s have estimated the number of girls trafficked to India annually are 10,000 to 15,000. 7,500 children are domestically trafficked for sexual exploitation.
Singer pointed that the city infrastructures are not in level with the urban growth rate and children’s basic need are not being addressed.
Families living under the poverty line and those living in slums are exposed to hazardous sanitation conditions, often having serious health implications.
“Urbanization is a fact of life and one of the greatest challenges we all face today. We must all invest more in cities as the emerging and growing problems associated with the disparities of wealth and access to essential services in cities will not solve themselves,” added Singer.
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