International Conference on child-friendly city concludes

KalimNews , nepalnews.com and agencies: The third international conference on child-friendly city of the Asia Pacific region countries concluded in Kathmandu, the Capital of Nepal on Saturday, issuing a four-point Kathmandu Declaration, state-owned RSS news agency reports. 

The conference held from 27 June to 29 June made a declaration which stresses on the importance of child-friendly city in the local government, participation of children and youths in the building of child-friendly city, regular monitoring and evaluation of child-friendly city and integrated project for the sustainable development of child friendly city. 

Over 150 representatives from 19 countries including Nepal, Australia, India, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bolivia, Thailand, America, Spain, Morocco, Pakistan, Canada, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and the Netherlands took part in the conference jointly organised by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, the UNICEEF and Child-Friendly Asia Region Network. 

Indian team comprised of  representatives of MARG, from Darjeeling and Kanchanjunga Uddhar Kendra from Siliguri, NEDAN Foundation, Humara Bachpan and Sikkim.

Nirnay John Chhetri of MARG presented the scenario of the children issues of North Bengal and North east region of India together with NEDAN Foundation, Kanchanjunga Uddhar Kendra and a representative from Sikkim.Mihir Mohanty of Humara Bachpan also addressed during the conference.

Experts from the participating countries presented 34 working papers on various issues concerning children including on child-friendly city. 

Dr. Rinchen Chophel (Director General) South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) delivered his keynote address during the inaugural session.

Speaking at the concluding session of the conference, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Rhidhibaba Pradhan said the government is serious towards the implementation of child-friendly city concept. 

The conference would be a support for meaningful participation of children in the formation of local government, she said. Secretary at Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development Shanta Bahadur Shrestha said the conference will be useful for initiating and promoting child-friendly governance as well as taking ahead the child-friendly city approach as an operational plan. 

UNICEF Nepal Chief Hana Singer said the event will contribute to promote child-friendly community and behaviour in Asia Pacific Region and translate the conception of child-friendly city into practice. 

Various awareness creating dramas and presentations on the theme of child-friendly city were performed by children represented from Biratnagar, Birgunj, Kathmandu, Pokhara and Nepalgunj. 

Earlier, such conference was organized in Japan for the first time in 2009 and subsequently in Indonesia in 2011.