January 2025
Namaskar,
The training started with a warm welcome by the chairperson of the Child Group. This meeting followed the previous meeting on cleanliness and disease prevention. Before starting today’s session, they conducted a physical inspection of personal cleanliness as discussed in the last meeting. Those with deficiencies were provided feedback and encouraged for improvement.
To initiate today’s discussion, I asked the group how familiar they were with the topic. Although not everyone could provide an answer, I noted that their eagerness to learn through shared insights was inspiring, and I began the session.
Key Discussion Point: Understanding Child Rights and Its Four Pillars
Every child has the right to physical, mental, social, and emotional development. Child rights aim to ensure the well-being, development, and protection of all children. I explained that the United Nations has incorporated these rights into 54 articles, covering every aspect necessary for children. While discussing these, I observed the participants actively asking questions and showing genuine curiosity to grasp the concepts.
The Four Pillars of Child Rights:
- Right to Survival:
Every child has the right to survival from the moment of conception. This includes access to proper nutrition, clean water, shelter, and healthcare services to ensure a healthy life. - Right to Development:
Children are entitled to education, access to information, opportunities for play and recreation, and emotional, mental, and physical growth. - Right to Protection:
Children have the right to be safeguarded from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harmful practices, such as child labor, trafficking, and violence. - Right to Participation:
Children should have the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions, be involved in decisions affecting their lives, and participate in child groups and activities that enhance their overall well-being.
As the discussion progressed, I emphasized that every child deserves a unique identity, including a name, nationality, and familial connections. We also addressed critical issues in our families and communities, such as forced labor, child marriage, and trafficking, and pledged to take action starting today to eliminate these injustices.
Noticing that the session was getting long and participants were losing focus, I took everyone outside for an engaging activity. Together, we played a lively game of “Parrot flies, Cow flies…” that brought smiles to everyone’s faces and uplifted the group’s spirits.
At the end, I informed everyone that our next meeting, scheduled for 5th of Magh, 2081, will focus on the topic of violence. With that, the program concluded successfully.
Thank you.
Binod Kumar Ram
Simra Bhawanipur, Rautahat