Landmark meeting of SAARC Countries on protection of Children held in Delhi

Initiative: The eight nations composing the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) are assembled.

Eight Nations : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Venue and Date: New Delhi, 9th-11th May, 2016.
Purpose :  To set strategies and agree on commitments to ensure the protection and security of the children of the region.
Meeting hosted by: Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
Meeting chaired by: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi,The Minister of Women and Child Development.
Ministerial meeting addressed by : Secretary General of SAARC, Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa

Steps taken:

1. Focusing on critical issues of child protection and violence in the region.
2. Delegates from the governments and civil society organizations from eight states will assess progress and developments of the past decade of regional effort.
3. Identify priorities for SAIEVAC for the next five years.
4. To provide the high-level regional leadership to set the course for SAIEVAC’s next period of regional action.

About SAIEVAC :

SAIEVAC is the Apex Body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Purpose:

1. To bring governments of the region into active engagement for child protection against violence.
2. SAARC made history in 1986 by installing children as a ‘summit-level concern and commitment.’
3. The forthcoming 4th Ministerial Meeting marks 30 years since that SAARC summit commitment.

Innovative measures

• The 4th Ministerial Meeting carries forward the collective inter governmental ownership of SAIEVAC, which is reflected in its Governing Body composed of official members, representing each of the eight governments.
• The technical consultation on 9th and 10th May will bring forward recommendations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Regional child protection opportunities emerging from country experiences
• This will include India’s positive insights from its innovative measures for tracking and rescuing lost and missing children.
• The technical will also examine the potential of using information and communication technology for improving these measures.

Major Initiatives:

Trackchild and Khoya Paya, Childline-1098, POCSO Act for protecting and safeguarding childrens.

About SAARC:

• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is regional inter governmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia.
• Purpose :The organization promotes development economics and regional integration.
• Headquarters: Kathmandu