Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN-Nepal) urged different political parties not to use children for election publicity. Addressing the audience at a press meeting, Tarak Dhital from CWIN noted that the political parties were violating the election code of conduct and were using children in their election programs. He added that children were at risk the election related violence having increased in the recent days.
"The political parties should not involve children for publicity," he stressed. He said that also the media should pressurize the political parties to protect the rights of children and remind them not to involve children in garnering votes. CWIN-Nepal asked the election observation bodies to monitor the involvement of children in election campaigns. What is more, CWIN-Nepal released 'Status of Children's Rights in Nepal -Annual Report 2008' during the program. According to the report CWIN collected a total 8,800 events relating to child labour and child modalities.
A total of 184 children were directly affected from the political conflict and out of them 21 children died, 15 were kidnapped, 39 injured and 7 displaced. According to the report a total of 127,000 children were working in risky conditions while 33 were taking shelter in the jail with their parents. Total 40 reports related to child marriage published in different media this year.
Sumnima Tuladhar said that some children's homes had not fulfilled the basic criteria and children were exploited.
Source: The Rising Nepal, April 03, 08