Second High Level Meeting (HLM) on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific concludes

New Delhi Declaration on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and Pacific adopted

The Second High Level Meeting (HLM) on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific concluded here today. The meeting has brought together delegates from 33 countries of the region to discuss and share the progress, experience, problems and challenges in the survival, protection, development and participation of the nearly 1.2 billion children in the region. The ‘New Delhi Declaration on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and Pacific’ has been adopted today.

Speaking at the occasion Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Women and Child Development said that such high level meetings provide an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards child rights and recognizing that child rights are fundamental to all cultures and societies and are crucial to children’s growth and upbringing. It is also a reaffirmation of our belief that child survival, development, protection and participation are vital for the growth of the country.

Smt. Tirath said that although this Meeting has focused on three crucial themes of adolescence, early child hood care and development and urban settings, we recognise that the rights of children are interrelated and interdependent and each one of them is equally important and fundamental to the well-being and dignity of the child. The application of child rights requires a multi-dimensional, integrated and inclusive approach for the overall and harmonious development and protection of children, she noted.

The Minister hoped that this Second High Level Meeting in Delhi has provided everyone new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in the field of child rights.

Speaking at the occasion Ms. Nita Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry Of Women and Child Development said that the adoption of the Delhi Declaration has restated our commitment to the realization of all rights of all children within our respective countries. Through the Declaration it has been reaffirmed that child rights are fundamental to all cultures and societies and are crucial to children’s growth and upbringing. She said that despite the great diversity represented by the 33 countries in Asia and the Pacific participating in the High Level Meeting, the people of the region share much in common, have strong mutual interests and have much to gain from closer cooperation to share good practices and lessons learned in support of the realization of child rights.

Present at the occasion were Mr Sharudin S. Kashim, Deputy Director General Planning, Government of Malaysia , delegates from 33 countries, officials from UNICEF and various other dignitaries.

Courtesy: Press Information Bureau (pib.nic.in)