History

Child Nepal (CN) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kathmandu, Nepal, dedicated to the promotion and protection of child rights. It was established in 2003 by a group of child rights activists, social workers, and professionals who were concerned about the situation of children in Nepal, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable backgrounds.

Founding and Vision:

Child Nepal was founded with the vision of creating a child-friendly society where children can grow in a safe, secure, and supportive environment. The organization places a strong emphasis on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and aligns its programs with national and international child protection frameworks.

Key Milestones in Child Nepal’s History:

  • 1997: Formation of a Child Club named Shrijana Child Club.
  • 2003: Establishment of Child Nepal with registration in Government of Nepal.
  • 2005: Institutional Set-up and First Strategic Plan Endorsed
  • 2008: First community based Early Childhood Development (ECD) Center established and operated in Sindhupalchok district of Nepal.
  • 2009: Partnership established with European Union (EU) for Education Project in Nepal serving 4500 children directly.
  • 2010: Partnership established with UNICEF and prepared the child friendly Nepali version of UNCRC with illustrations for the first time in Nepal.
  • 2011: Submitted the first shadow report of the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) from Nepal to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
  • 2012: Represented in the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the first time
  • 2013: Initiated the campaign- Longest Painting in Nepal on Peace, Child Rights and Youths.
  • 2014: Represented in the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the second time and participated in the 69th Pre-sessional working group meeting.
  • 2014: Responsibility of National Convener of Human Rights National Magna Meet and successful completion of the national event
  • 2015: Deadly 7.8 magnitude Earthquake in Nepal. Initiated collaborations with We World Onlus, Freedom Matters, UNICEF, The Salvation Mission, Caritas Germany and other development agencies for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in Nepal serving 4000 children and their families.
  • 2016: Established partnership with European Union for “Girls Samvad” project in Nepal serving 2300 adolescent girls.
  • Conducted the first ever comprehensive assessment of child poverty in urban slums and squatters in Nepal.
  • 2017: Official establishment of Ratify OP3CRC Coalition Nepal being the national coordinator of the network.
  • 2018: Participation in the Global Convention of Rotary in Hamburg, Germany
  • 2019: Initiated partnership with PE&D, France for ECD programs to serve 1200 children below 8 years targeting urban slums in Kathmandu
  • 2020-2021: Global Covid pandemic. Initiated Covid pandemic prevention programs targeting children in Nepal and served 5000 children.
  • 2022: Initiated partnership with KODDI, Korea to serve 144 children with disability under eight years in Nepal.
  • 2023: Marked the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of Child Nepal.
  • 2024: Marked the 10th anniversary of OP3CRC adoption in participation of Ann Skelton, Chair of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Nepal.
    Initiated partnership with FVF, Spain to serve the children, families and community who are suffering from growing climate crisis in Nepal.

Major Focus Areas:

  1. Child Protection
  2. Child-Friendly Governance
  3. Education and Awareness
  4. Child Participation and Empowerment
  5. Anti-trafficking and Migration Safety
  6. Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI)

Partners and Supporters:

Child Nepal has collaborated with a variety of national and international organizations such as Save the Children, UNICEF, Plan International, and others, while also building strong networks with local communities and governmental agencies.