News & Events

20 Apr 2010

Comprehensive Protective Program for Domestic Child Labor

PROJECT: Community Based Child Protection Action

Project Summery:

In order to address the most pressing concerns of domestic child worker, ACCESS aims to launch “Community Based Child Protection Action” in the dense residential area of Maharajgunj, Dhapasi and Mahankal, where significant number of the target population is concentrated. Employing a child for household chores such as washing clothes, cleaning, cooking is hugely and widely practiced not only by well-off family but also by so-called educated and influential people. Our society at large is aware of the ill effects of child labor, both to the individual child as well as to the nation; however the existing societal attitude remains largely indifferent to it. Legal provisions on safeguarding child rights and preventing child labor are inadequate in enforcement and children continue to be hired as child laborers.

Out of 1 lakh 27 thousand child labor, 56 thousand children are working as domestic labor and among them 42 thousand domestic child labor are under 14 years age. More than 21 thousand domestic child labors are concentrated only in Kathmandu valley.

Child labor is primarily a by-product of acute poverty. To run away from a life of poverty and degradation, parents are compelled to send their children to the city to work as a domestic worker hoping this would be the best solution. Despite being knowledgeable about the wrong doing by hiring a child for household chores and worst; not providing him/her with basic needs such as schooling, nutritional food, healthcare, and appropriate behavior blindly ignoring the child rights, is the most pressing concern that needs an immediate, concrete and consistent intervention. Therefore, the need of the hour is to sensitize the employers and whole society for behavior change towards the issues of domestic child labor by making them aware about the negative effects, child labor has on their children, their families, their economy and their nation.

To bring a positive and sustainable change in the life of domestic child workers, the one year work plan has been designed to intensively work among communities, employers, domestic child labor and privileged students (privileged children). There will be

4 Drop-In-Centers (DICs) catering education oppertunities to 100 out of school domestic child workers and nearly 4000 privileged students (privileged children) will be sensitized through orientation program on child rights, child labor and child sexual abuse and encouraged to work for the interest of domestic child labor. Hence the project is designed and will be executed putting young students in the crux for lasting impact in our society. Besides this, more importantly Child Protection Committees(CPC) in the project VDCs and ward level will be formed, and affiliated with local government for greater involvement of society in eliminating child labor exploitation. Thus, this projects will play an instrumental role to enforce the policy of Child Friendly Local Governance adopted by Ministry of Local Development.

The project is running from April 15 2010 to May 15 2011.

Objectives:

1. Establish, strengthen and mobilize communities on child protection and against child labor exploitation.

2. Provide educational support for out of school CDWs (Child Domestic worker) to motivate them to withdraw from child labor and also to bring them into mainstream education.

Expected Results:

Objective 1: Establish, strengthen and mobilize communities on child protection and against child labor exploitation.

· VDC and Ward level Child Protection Committees (CPC) as per the policy of Nepal Government will be formed and affiliated to local government (VDC and ward office) and thereby CPC takes child protection initiatives.

· 4000 middle class children will be informed and motivated to speak against child labor exploitation in their communities and home.

· More than 200 children will be organized and active through their child clubs at community level. The child clubs will recognized and accepted by community.

Objective 2: Provide educational support for out of school CDWs to bring them into mainstream education.

· 100 plus out of school child domestic workers will receive educational opportunities.

Activities:

1. Formation. Strengthening and mobilization of community based child protection committee at village and ward level as per the policy of Nepal Government and thus recognized as a part of local government body.

2. Supporting VCPCs/WCPCs activities on child protection issues and concern.

3. Running education based outreach center targeting 100 out of school CDWs in the project location.

4. Form, strengthen and mobilize community based child clubs on child protection actions.

5. Running middle class children, awareness, sensitization and mobilization against child labor in 40 schools of project location targeting 4000 middle class and privilege children.

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