Child Helpline Nepal 1098
Through advocacy, education, and direct intervention, we strive to create a safe environment where every child is shielded from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. We aim to nurture their overall development, ensuring a bright future for all. Child rights are essential for Nepal’s progress, covering survival, protection, development, and participation. Sadly, a significant portion of Nepali children, nearly half of the population, are denied these rights. They endure various forms of abuse and exploitation, like violence, labour, trafficking, and sexual abuse, especially in cities. Economic, social, and political challenges worsen these problems, leaving many kids without families or homes, and forced to work in dangerous conditions.
To address these issues, CWIN Helpline was set up in 1998, offering rescue, support, and counselling for affected children. Recognizing the need for government action, CWIN pushed for child protection to become a mainstream concern. This led to the creation of the Child Helpline program, supported by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens. The toll-free number 1098 was launched in 2007, spreading to different parts of Nepal. Today there are total of 18 Child Helplines in Nepal, and 7 of them are run by CWIN-Nepal independently, with 2 functioning in partnership with local organizations. CWIN-Nepal autonomously operates Child Helpline Nepal 1098 offices in Morang, Kathmandu, Makawanpur, Kaski, Rupandehi, Banke, and Kailali. In Dhanusa, the Child Helpline operates through a partnership with the local organization Aasman Nepal, and in Surkhet, it is run in collaboration with Aawaz Nepal.
Child Helpline International, a global network encompassing similar helplines in neighboring countries such as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, and others, includes active participation from CWIN-Nepal. Emphasizing collaboration, CWIN underscores the significance of cooperation among government agencies, law enforcement, healthcare facilities, media outlets, and civil society in ensuring effective child protection.
The Child Helpline receives about 100,000 calls yearly, directly assisting over 5000 children at risk. This shows the crucial role helplines play in safeguarding child rights in Nepal, providing vital support for vulnerable children.
In essence, ensuring child rights is vital for Nepal’s prosperity. By addressing issues like abuse and exploitation and providing immediate support through helplines, Nepal can create a safer environment for children, fostering their holistic development and contributing to the nation’s overall progress.
What is Child Helpline for?
- To provide emergency rescue, relief, and psychosocial counseling services for children.
- To monitor and supervise child rights and raise social awareness to combat criminal activities targeting children.
- To gather information on children at risk, offer emergency assistance as necessary, and support their social and familial reintegration.
- To facilitate coordination and support among government agencies, organizations, and civil societies for protecting at-risk children.
- To advocate against individuals or groups exploiting children and putting them at risk.
- To promote and disseminate information on child rights protection among stakeholders.
- To ensure children’s access to the Child Helpline for protecting their rights.
- To provide services for children affected by violence, torture, sexual crimes, accidents, disasters, abandonment, and illness.
Child Helpline Nepal for whom?
- Street children
- Children engaged in hazardous labour.
- Missing and abducted children.
- Children impacted by natural disasters.
- Children subjected to bonded and forced labour.
- Children experiencing violence, torture, discrimination, labor exploitation, and abuses.
- Vulnerable, ill, and affected by accidents and disasters
Children in detention, custody, and involved in juvenile delinquency. - Children facing sexual abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or at risk of trafficking.
- Children requiring psychosocial counseling.
- Children affected by violence and conflict.
- Marginalized, abandoned, and helpless children.
- Child marriage or children at risk of marriage
- Trafficked children and those at risk of trafficking
- Children in challenging circumstances and at risk
What does Child Helpline Nepal do?
– Collection and dissemination of information on violations of child rights through the Toll-Free number 1098 (Ten-Nine-Eight) and telephone counseling services.
– Services for lost and found children.
– Provision of medical treatment and healthcare services.
– Emergency rescue, relief, and protection for children.
– Supervision, monitoring, and field visits related to child rights.
– Raising awareness on child rights and disseminating information.
– Providing psychosocial counseling services.
– Offering legal aid and community mediation services.
– Coordinating with institutions and developing strategies for child protection.
– Tracing families and facilitating social reintegration.