Social Policy

© UNICEF/NEP083/MLama

In Nepal, where poverty and exclusion are pervasive and social norms often render children voiceless, social policy is about bringing children’s voices, rights and well being to the centre of policy making. Nepal has signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which enshrines the right of children to participate in decision-making that affects their lives. The government has signalled its commitment to including the perspective of children in national discussions surrounding the development of policy. In addition, children are finding new outlets for meaningful participation such as child clubs, listeners’ clubs, and consultations with policy makers.

Activities

• Strengthen the capacity of national partners to develop and implement policies, legislation and budgets aimed at promoting children’s wellbeing and advancing children’s rights as enshrined in the CRC.
• Increase capacity of policy makers, parents and the media to understand and act on issues relating to women, children, young people and disadvantaged communities, by helping children to be child rights promoters, and supporting Facts for Life and Saathi Sanga Manka Kura and listeners’ groups, peer educators and similar youth groups.
• Increase the participation of children and young people in national policy dialogues through support to children’s magazines and other mechanisms that allow children’s views to be voiced and their participation to be
guaranteed by law.
• Improve knowledge-generation capacity and systems, such as the Poverty Monitoring and Analysis System (PMAS), among key partners, provide access to disaggregated information on children and women, by documenting best practices, conducting strategic evaluations and studies with stakeholders, and supporting the Central Bureau of Statistics.
• Ensure that UNICEF and key partners have the plans, coordination mechanisms, knowledge and skills necessary to meet the immediate needs of children affected by humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.

Expected results

By 2010, national policies and plans will reflect the provisions of the CRC, CEDAW and CRC Committee Concluding Observations, and children and young people will regularly participate in national policy dialogues. Policy makers will make informed decisions that take account of inputs from children and women.

Monitoring and evaluation will be strengthened as a result of better knowledge generating capacity and systems; in particular, disaggregated information on children and women will be fully utilised.

The promotion of child rights will be highly visible through wide-ranging media activities and awareness-raising events. Children and young people will be involved in many of the activities promoting their rights.

UNICEF and key identified partners will have the plans, coordination mechanisms, knowledge and skills necessary to meet the immediate needs of children affected by emergency and natural disasters.