The 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was celebrated by organizing various programmes all over the world, including Nepal, on Friday.

The Universal Child Rights Day was observed across the country with a special focus on the national Plan of Action for Children Nepal (2004 -2014).

Also, to mark the day, child rights organizations like UNICEF and Save the Children organized various programmes in the capital and other parts of the country.

On the occasion, UNICEF-Nepal launched a special edition of "The State of the World's Children" report, celebrating 20 years of the CRC, amid a ceremony in the capital.

Although there have been significant improvements in living conditions for children in Nepal over the past 40 years, challenges still remain, UNICEF said in a statement issued on the day.

"Nepali children still face poverty and discrimination, lack protection and are still vulnerable to malnutrition," said Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF's Representative in Nepal. "With the opportunity afforded by the development of the new Constitution, Nepal has the potential to give children and young people a chance to build a democratic, peaceful and prosperous country."

She indicated that the new Constitution could become the most child-friendly in the world if it respects the commitments made by Nepal in ratifying the CRC.

"But the Constitution is only valuable if its good intentions are converted into real action for all Nepali children," she added.

Similarly, issuing a statement on the occasion, Save the Children said that 20th November is "an important opportunity" for the State, children's and youth groups, United Nations bodies, national human rights institutions and all other stakeholders to come together "for the common cause of children in Nepal".

The child rights organization also appealed for the inclusion of the children in the process of drafting the country's new constitution "on subject matters that relate to them in keeping with their age and maturity" and called on the government to draft and promulgate a constitution "that ensures the dignity of the child, provides the child with full possibilities for development and one that facilitates dialogue between adults and children in the spirit of the convention".

"We welcome the many positive provisions in the constitution and strongly appeal that (As prohibited by the convention) the use of children for political purposes are categorically defined as abuse of power and should be prohibited in the New Constitution" said Brian J. Hunter, the Country Director of Save the Children's Nepal programme.

Save the Children organized a concert "Rights Rock" in the capital to mark this globally significant day.

Nepali musicians 1974 AD, Kunti Moktan, Nima Rumba, Sugam Pokharel, and Robin and the New Revolution performed their popular numbers to advocate for the rights of children of Nepal at the Jawalakhel grounds venue.

The UN CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, which in 54 short clauses summarizes all civil, political, social and economic rights for children.

Nepal became a signatory to the CRC in 1990. nepalnews.com 

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