“We Want to Be Heard” - Children Call for Greater Recognition and Meaningful Participation
On World Children’s Day 2025, Joining Forces Nepal, a global alliance of six INGOs working on children’s issues, stands together to reaffirm our commitment to the rights, dignity, and well-being of children in Nepal.
World Children’s Day marks the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) adoption anniversary. This year, the theme of ‘My Day, My Rights’ focuses on listening to children to understand their lived experiences and to join them in advocating for their rights to protection, education, and participation (UNICEF 2025).
Nepal has been a state party to the UNCRC since 1990, demonstrating its commitment to uphold the child rights dimensions of survival, protection, development, and participation through the constitution and policy provision. The Constitution of Nepal guarantees child rights as fundamental rights, with a focus relating to identity, education, health, protection, and participation in the decisions related to children. The Act Relating to Children 2018 and the National Children’s Policy 2024 both support a child-friendly society that prioritizes the holistic development of children and further emphasis the strengthening of child protection systems and mechanisms. `
Despite the strong commitments and policies, children in Nepal still face multiple challenges such as child marriage, child labour, malnutrition, and exposure to online violence and are calling for more to be done. During the recent consultation on 17th November, children from across the country highlighted the need for more vibrant and robust systems and programmes to protect them from child marriage, child labour and falling into the traps of substance use and online abuse. They further emphasised; ‘they should be heard,’ and that ‘children’s issues should always be a priority, even in times of adversities.’ They also called for greater monitoring of the government’s initiatives to create child-friendly communities.
On World Children’s Day, Joining Forces in Nepal calls for greater ownership, stronger coalitions, and intentional efforts to listen to children, centre their agency, and ensure their meaningful participation. This includes building a culture where children are genuinely heard and engaged in issues that directly and indirectly affect their lives.
Together with children, Joining Forces envisions a resilient, inclusive, and child-friendly Nepal, where every child is safe, heard, and empowered to thrive.
On behalf of Joining Forces Nepal:
ChildFund Japan, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes, World Vision