South Asian lawmakers pledge to safeguard children's rights in the region

The first meeting of South Asia Parliamentarians Platform For Children concluded in Kathmandu Friday with a commitment to prioritizing, promoting, and safeguarding children's rights in the region.

The two-day meeting was organized by UNICEF South Asia in coordination with the Parliament of Nepal.

Issuing a statement on Friday, UNICEF Nepal said that the regional meeting is a milestone in bringing together lawmakers from all eight countries in South Asia for children's rights.

"It is also an opportunity to plug in the critical role that parliamentarians can play in tackling key development challenges affecting children in the region in the larger framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting's goal is to establish a regional parliamentarian platform to ensure broad support and commitment in building sustainable public systems that work for children", the statement reads.

In South Asia, home to 1.7 billion people and 621 million children under 18, despite economic growth and consequent improvements in realizing the rights of children, massive disparities still exist preventing children from living in dignity, reaching their full potential and making choices about their futures.

Taking part in the meeting, Ranju Kumari Jha, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee of Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Social Welfare, Parliament of Nepal, said the meeting will not only help develop relations but also help firm up commitments in drawing up a work plan on critical issues related to children."

"Influencing programs, policies and budgets in favor of the most marginalized and excluded children has the potential to help break inter-generational cycles of poverty and deprivation. Together we will find ways to translate our commitment to child rights into results," Jean Gough, Regional Director of UNICEF South Asia was quoted in the statement. Endit