South Asian Alliance of Grassroots is a coalition initiated in 2007 under the leadership of Butterflies India in unison with 4 leading NGOs from South Asian Countries –Aschiana in Afghanistan, Aparajeyo in Bangladesh, CWSN in Nepal and Kantha Shakti in Sri Lanka for the protection and promotion of child rights. Currently 139 grassroots NGOs from the five countries have joined in the effort of SAAGN. Acknowledging that two decades after the Summit World Fit for Children impressive gains have been made regarding children’s status by the South Asian countries. Today more children are at school, more children are better off than they were a decade ago, many more children are healthier today, are likely to see their fifth birth day and have higher hopes than the generation that came before them. Nevertheless, these achievements and gains have been uneven and below the expected progress.
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Participants from members’ countries
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SAAGN- the South Asian alliance of 139 NGOs from five nations-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka- for the protection and promotion of child rights in the region reiterates the above through the recent research conducted as a part of the project‘ Civil Society Alliance for Child Rights in South Asia’. Literacy rate in South Asia still remains at 58.4%, with Afghanistan (39%) recording a level lower than the regional average. Literacy level was also uneven across gender groups and regions. More than 90% of children are enrolled in school. But those who complete V grade are much lower indicating a high dropout rate.
The quality of education too still remains dismally low. Survival of the child poses a major threat to children in South Asia. The MDG target for 2015 on reduction in infant mortality rate, increased skilled birth attendance and ante natal care are likely to be missed by most of the countries in the region. While only Bangladesh is on track to achieve the target in the former, only Sri Lanka is likely to reach the target in the latter. Nepal has also been able to fulfil its MDG Targets. Similarly, under-5 Mortality and Maternal Mortality rate targets are elusive to Afghanistan and India. Most of the South Asian countries are well either on track or have achieved the target for improved drinking water source. Nevertheless, except Sri Lanka all the others are either off the track or need to make additional efforts to achieve the effective sanitation systems in their respective countries.
Poverty too remains aggressive in South Asia with only Sri Lanka reporting headway towards the MDG target. Apart from the above, survival and developmental issues, children are victims of a number of crimes. The study reports the presence of millions of children missing, on streets, in child labour (44 Million), with disabilities (42 million), trafficked, victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, early marriage, in armed conflict and in conflict with law. The figures presented in the study could be considered only as a tip of the ice berg as most of these crimes go under reported. Child participation in governance also remains at a minimal level in the region with most being in a programmatic manner. Subsequently, based on the recommendations and action plans that emerged out of the Kathmandu Consultation in August 2013, we the members of SAAGN along with civil society members, Trade Union members, Media representatives resolve to undertake the following:
1.Taking note of the precarious conditions of children in the region, SAAGN and civil society members from the five countries reaffirm their commitment to the protection and promotion of child rights and resolve to make the region fit for children with an accentuated effort to mitigate the specific survival, developmental and protection issues faced by all children in particular, children who are differently abled and marginalized across the region.
2.Recognising family as the institution to be strengthened for ensuring a better survival, development and protection for children, SAAGN pledges to work towards to support marginalised and vulnerable families through designing and implementing family strengthening programmes in partnership with grassroots NGOs and local and state level governments. Moreover, we appeal to the national governments that no policies or programmes shall in any way infringe on the family fabric of the society and shall instead enhance their efforts in strengthening families so as to create a safe environment for children.
3. Concerned at the lack of data related to the aforementioned issues SAAGN members resolve to collate and document the data related to these issues in partnership with research organisations and institutions in their respective areas. Moreover, the members appeal to the national governments to put in place mechanisms for collation of data and tracking of birth and marriage registrations, children and family migration at all levels i.e., village, provincial, state and national. SAAGN will endeavour to develop measurable indicators of social, economic and cultural rights of children.
4. SAAGN website would have a special section on its website, with a collation of all legislations in the region pertaining to child rights. SAAGN would also make efforts to disseminate information and knowledge materials to journalists across the region.
5. Welcoming the existence of various legislations to ensure the rights of children, the members wish to advocate for their review in order to bridge the gaps and make it in the best interest of the child.
6. To advocate for an enactment for a special legislation to prevent sexual offence against children in countries where it does not already exist.
7. To lobby for establishing minimum standards and strengthen the quality of care services for the recovery and reintegration of child victims and adequate compensation and rehabilitation services.
8. We express serious concern over the violations of rights of children in conflict with law and those in need of care and protection. SAAGN appeals to the national governments to review the existing juvenile justice system, and make appropriate modification for the best interests of the children keeping in mind the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Beijing Rules for administration of juveniles in conflict with law.
9. We consider strict enforcement of legislations as one of the effective measures to prevent crimes against children. Subsequently, the members resolve to monitor various cases related to children and make advocacy and networking along with public outcry to ensure proper enforcement of the laws in favour of children.
10. We urge all the governments in the region to review the budgetary allocations for programs for children, especially in education, life skills education and health care and in implementation of the various laws and putting in place infrastructure so as to ensure maximum benefit to all children.
11. To encourage National governments to implement sustainable anti-poverty programs, this is part of their stated national plans of action and to periodically review the implementation of the same.
12. Document Best Practices in the region and disseminate the same to NGOs, civil society organisations and government to adapt some of these Best Practices in their countries.
13. Advocate with the government to have special Police Units for Children across the region.
14. To dialogue with national governments to establish Child helpline services with the same calling number (1098) across the region.
15. Wherever there is an absence of Child Rights commissions, to advocate for the same.
16. Emphasising that children are better spokespersons for themselves, the Alliance resolves to make every effort through lobbying and advocacy to ensure age appropriate and informed participation of children in governance. We wish to engage children in meaningful and critical examination of changing contemporary values and norms along with the various exploitations experienced by them so as to design and develop strategies to prevent abuse and protect their childhood.
17. SAAGN is committed to work towards facilitating a resource pool of legal professionals in each of the member countries as defenders of child rights at the ground level. The vision that SAAGN envisages is to build ‘lawyers without borders’- a dedicated group of lawyers who work closely with grassroots NGOs and take up cases for children pro bono.
18. SAAGN, in its coming phase, looks forward to working closely with Local Self Government functionaries, teachers, law enforcement functionaries, judiciary, trade unions, media especially community radio and local television channels to take forward child rights agenda and can help in functioning as watch dogs at the local and national level. Strengthen and capacitate all protection agencies to ensure that children’s rights are protected and guaranteed at the community level.
19. We also propose a structured sensitization and awareness programme for our legislators/policy makers across the region.
20. Welcoming the initiatives taken by SAIVEC, UNICEF and other UN agencies, INGOs for preventing atrocities against children, the Alliance extends its support to these agencies in creating a child friendly South Asia.
21. SAAGN will make efforts to work towards partnering with more grassroots NGOs in the region including Pakistan, Bhutan and Maldives.
SAAGN decides and resolves to create South Asia a child friendly region by attempting to ensure for every child, the best possible start to life; better survival, better education, protection, growth and development in good health and proper nutrition; making concerted efforts to prevent all acts of crimes against children, abuse, exploitation, discrimination and thus building a safe environment for them that enables them to be physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally secure and socially competent. Confident of change we as one body pledge to build for children a world where every girl and boy is assured of their childhood; where their hopes are rekindled; where they are educated; where their rights are protected; where they are dignified and respected; where their voices are heard and where they enjoy dignified life. SAAGN will work towards having a follow up to this consultation to record the progress on this resolution by the alliance, civil society organisation.
Mrs
Zohra Chatterji is leading an official and business delegation to Sri Lanka
from 6-10 September for talks to enhance cooperation in the field of powerloom,
handloom and textiles. During her visit she would call on Hon. Basil Rajapaksa,
Minister of Economic Development and Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of
Industry & Commerce and have meetings with Dr. P. B. Jayasundera,
Secretary, Ministry of Finance & Planning and Mr Anura Siriwardena,
Secretary, Ministry of Industry & Commerce. She would also meet members of
Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF).
