Draft of Child Act 2063 presented

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and Central Child Welfare Board presented the proposed draft of 'Child Act 2063'.

Presenting the draft at a consultative meeting, Deepak Raj Sapkota, executive director of the CCWB said, “The draft of the amended Child Act 2048, which contains nine chapters and 14 clauses, has broadened the concept of protection rights of children.”

“The protection rights of children will prevent recruitment of children in security forces for various purposes,” said Sapkota.

The draft of the Child Act 2063 has classified shelter homes into different categories like shelter homes for orphans and abandoned children, rehabilitation centres for children with disabilities and living with HIV/AIDS, transitional centres for children rescued from sexual and other kinds of exploitations and natural disasters, rehabilitation centres for drug users and residential homes.

The draft has provided special protection rights to children and their families, who come into contact with law enforcing agencies, before the juvenile courts give final verdicts and the investigation officers proceed the case related to children. Such special protection rights include temporary shelter for victim children and their families.

In the draft, we have progressed from the concept of welfare to rights with a view to making the Act rights-based rather than welfare-based, Sapkota said.

“The Central Child Welfare Board would be transformed into the Central Child Rights Board.”

Addressing the meeting, Dr Suomi Sakai, UNICEF’s representative, said, “The UNICEF is ready to provide technical assistance to get best practices and good laws.” Dr Sakai added that it is also important to get children’s view on the law as it would have a long-term impact on them and also be a model for Constituent Assembly and Constitution.

Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal said, “Though we are in a transitional phase, the Child Act 2063 would serve as the basis for drafting Acts and Constitution.”