ADVOCACY – December 1 2023

National workshop on alternative care in Nepal: Contemporary situation and challenges

In collaboration with the National Child Rights Council, SOS Children's Villages Nepal recently co-organised the "National Workshop on Alternative Care in Nepal: Contemporary Situation and Challenges." The event, held on November 30, 2023, brought together care-experienced young individuals, seasoned practitioners, and esteemed guests to address the current state and hurdles in the field of alternative care in Nepal.

 

 

Highlights:

  • Chief Guest: Honorable Minister Surendra Raj Acharya of the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens
  • Chaired by: Mr Bam Bahadur Baniya, Vice-chairperson of the National Child Rights Council
  • Key Figures: Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Women and social affairs, Parliamentarians and representatives from Province Government, MUAN, NARMIN and CSO Network, and from various organisations actively involved in children's rights.

 

 

During the programme, Dr Ganga B. Gurung, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nepal, and Mr Shree Ram Bajagain, Advocacy Advisor, presented the initial findings of a qualitative research study conducted by SOS Children’s Villages Nepal. The research focused on the evolutionary stages, existing status, accountability concerns, and prospects of alternative care in Nepal.

 

 

The preliminary findings highlighted several key areas of improvement:

  • Functional Child and Youth Clubs: Some child care homes lack functional child and youth clubs, limiting the rights to association for children.
  • Safeguarding Mechanism: There is a need for improvement in safeguarding mechanisms at child care homes.
  • Capacity Development: Insufficient capacity development institutions for caregivers.
  • Local Protection Mechanisms: Limited establishment and functionality of local-level protection mechanisms.
  • Caregiver Awareness: Lack of awareness among caregivers about child rights, accountability, and psycho-social well-being.
  • Governance Gap: Discrepancies in self-governance and gatekeeping policies corresponding to national laws.
  • Complaint Handling: Weak complaint handling mechanisms between the government and service providers.
  • Social Protection: Absence of a social protection scheme for children in alternative care.
  • Cybersecurity Concerns: Inadequate attention to cybersecurity and digital access for children in alternative care.

 

 

Govt reps acknowledged the findings, pledging to tackle challenges in alternative care.

Addressing the gathering, Hon'ble Minister Surendra Raj Acharya expressed a commitment to improving the alternative care setting in the country. He emphasized that child care homes should be the last resort, and the state should take responsibility for children who have lost their parents or are on the verge of losing them.

“The Ministry is committed to child care and protection along with social protection and the Ministry pledged to collaborate with organizations working in the alternative care setting for better monitoring and the overall well-being of children in alternative care,” said Hon’ble Minister Acharya.

 

Click here to view the full report of the event.