Legislation and policies for Child Protection

© UNICEF/NEP1759/KPANDAY

The government has demonstrated its commitment to creating an environment that fulfils children’s rights to protection by proposing a new Child Rights Protection and Promotion Bill. This new bill is aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards, and is a major piece of legislation that will influence the whole child protection system, including service providers’ roles and responsibilities, access to justice, support to the most marginalised children and their families, and juvenile justice mechanisms for children in conflict with the law. The government has also recently ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

As Nepal is prone to emergencies such as earthquakes and flooding, children affected by these circumstances need special protection measures.

Activities

• Establish legislative child protection frameworks and guidelines that are in line with international standards, by supporting the government to develop, amend and implement relevant legislation, and form an alternative to parental care task force.
• Strengthen the capacities of key stakeholders to advocate on national protection legislation and policies, by training/orienting parliamentarians, judges and the police on child rights and juvenile justice.
• Strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders on monitoring and reporting systems, guidelines and mechanisms on child protection issues, by developing guidelines and strengthening the government system.
• Establish UNICEF’s role as leader of the cluster for protection of children affected by emergencies, by developing an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan with the government, NGOs and UN agencies.

Expected results

By 2010, national legislation and policies including guidelines and enforcement mechanisms aligned with international instruments and standards on human rights for the protection of children from violence, exploitation and abuse will be in place and reinforced. Children will have legal protection from violence, exploitation and abuse, and key stakeholders will advocate for the implementation of relevant national policies. In addition, the government will develop a national system to monitor and report on child protection issues.

An Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for child protection will be prepared in partnership with the government and civil society. Pre-positioned emergency supplies will be in place, and memoranda of understanding will have been signed with the government and local suppliers.