India, S Asian nations discuss ways to end violence against children

The meeting seeks to assess the progress and developments in the past decade.

India, Nepal and several other South Asian countries held a discussion to set strategies and identify priorities to end violence against children ahead of the 4th South Asian Initiative' to end Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday inn New Delhi.

Organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the three-day 'Technical Meeting and 4th Ministerial Meeting of SAIEVAC' seeks to assess the progress and developments in the past decade.

The government and civil society organisations delegates from other countries participating in the event are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"Day one of the technical meeting included an inaugural and various business sessions," an official statement from the ministry said on Tuesday.

Emphasising on child participation, V Somasundaran, Secretary, WCD, said that ending violence against children is a priority and a common goal and commitment of the region.

Stuti Narain Kacker, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, highlighted the need for all member countries to act in a concentrated, cooperative, coordinated and comprehensive manner to identify and address areas of priority such as cross-border trafficking, documentation and sharing of good practises.

The members also discussed regional efforts and agreed on commitments and to identify priorities for SAIEVAC for the next five years.