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Press Release

Region's Leaders Commit to Investing More and Better for Children

Kathmandu - Tuesday, 22 May 2001

The inaugural session of the South Asian High Level Meeting on Investing in Children began in Kathmandu with the lighting of a traditional lamp by a young girl and boy, a Nepali expression of hope. Attending the meeting were more than 200 participants including corporate leaders, child activists and high level government delegations from seven south Asian countries.

In his inaugural address, Hon. Chakra Prasad Bastola, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, expressed confidence that the meeting will make tangible differences in the lives of children in terms of their health, education and safety.

Addressing the inaugural session Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, challenged the countries of the region to allocate more resources and utilize the existing resources more effectively on programmes aimed at fulfilling the human rights of children. He suggested that resource limitations are less of a problem in the region than the manner in which decisions about resource allocations are made.

The star speaker, fourteen year old Kelzang Dorjee of Bhutan, representing the 17 Change Makers, girls and boys from 7 South Asian countries, affirmed that they are intent on changing the world for children in the region. He congratulated the corporate leaders for listening and pledging the support of the private sector for concrete plans developed by children. He said that a corporate leader from the Maldives has taken the first step by pledging to provide computers, including internet connections and a website to establish a network of Change Makers and other youth activists around the world.

Representing the corporate leaders, Mr. Ken Balendra, Chairman, Bank of Ceylon said that the South Asian business community recognises that children can be equal partners and therefore is prepared to invest in them as long as the governments are willing to recognize the corporate sector and children as partners.

H.E. Nihal Rodrigo Secretary General, SAARC stated that the gap between commitment and achievement, promise and performance for the well-being of children must be bridged.

In the keynote address Hon. Ram Sharan Mahat, Minister of Finance of Nepal highlighted the need for children's participation in decisions that affect their lives.

The first plenary session of the main meeting was also addressed by H.E. Tan Sri Ajit Singh, Secretary General, Boao Forum for Asia and former Secretary General of ASEAN, who stressed that partnerships between government and civil society are needed to transform the lives of children. He also stressed that solutions to Asian problems must be found within Asia, and can be addressed through cooperation among Asian business leaders, economists and other partners.

The inaugural session was followed by statements by Heads of Delegation of the seven countries. Hon. Dr. Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, State Minister for Planning, Bangladesh, Hon. Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, Minister of Health and Education, Bhutan, Hon. Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resource Development of India, Hon. Rashida Yoosuf, Minister for Women Affairs and Social Security, Maldives, Hon. Gopal Rai, Minister of State of Finance of Nepal, Hon. Farid Rahman, Minister for Planning, NWFP, Pakistan and Hon. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Plan Implementation of Sri Lanka. Each speaker outlined the progress made for children in their respective countries and the challenges that remain.

The meeting hosted by HMG Nepal and UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia is part of a series of consultations between children, corporate leaders and government decision makers of the seven SAARC countries aimed at increasing the level of investment in children. The meetings which began on 19 May 2001, are due to conclude on 23 May 2001.

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