Summary:

This update provides information about the 'Say Yes for Children' campaign of the Global Movement in Nepal as well as other information relating to the Special Session.

www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/Nepal_August.pdf

Update on GMC/UNGASS Nepal Activities

August 2001

- Say Yes for Children: "Say Yes for Children" campaign is going on very successfully in Nepal. More than 170,000 pledge forms have been collected. The target of 200,000 pledge forms seems to be achievable. People from the remote villages are also taking part with enthusiasm. Due to the public demand, additional pledge forms have to be printed. People are also sending hand- written pledge forms, letters and suggestions. Telephone calls, letters and e-mails offering for involving in the movement are coming everyday. In fact, "Say Yes" has contributed to spread the movement throughout the country. Public Internet poll booths were set up in vantage public places of Kathmandu for two days. Many people showed interest on it and thousands of pledges were submitted electronically and manually in the public poll booths. It was the first public Internet polling in Nepal. UN agencies, NGOs, INGOs, child clubs, private sector, schools, media and general public are supporting the movement and are involved in promoting "Say Yes for Children" campaign. Besides, the government and the core organizations – Save the Children (UK, Norway, US and Japan), Unicef, Plan International - NGOs and child clubs - CWIN, Hatemalo, Jagriti Bal Samuha, Consortium of Organizations Working with Children, Concern, etc – are organizing various programmes to distribution, filling and collecting the pledge forms.

- National Children's Day: On 20 August 2001, throughout the country, Nepal celebrated 37th National Children's Day with the theme "Say Yes for Children". Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba casted his "Say Yes for Children" vote pledging for children. CWIN organized a children's drawing competition focussing on ten imperatives of the Rallying Call for Children. Many people filled pledge forms in various programmes throughout the country on the Children's Day. There was a huge media coverage on the "Say Yes" campaign. Moreover, a children's fair was organized by District Child Welfare Committee, local NGOs, Unicef, Save the Children UK and child clubs in Pokhara.

- School Mobilization: Students of hundreds of schools filled the "Say Yes" pledge forms. Unicef staff visited many schools and briefed about GMC, UNGASS and "Say Yes" campaign. Similarly, NGOs and child clubs visited many schools outside Kathmandu and got thousands of the pledge forms filled. All staff members of the core organizations were also involved personally. During the weekends, holidays and off hours, Save the Children UK staff visited friends, relatives and schools to get the pledge forms filled.  Involvement of the Private Sector: Unlimited Numedia Pvt. Ltd., a prominent IT company is volunteering in computer data entry of the pledge forms free of cost. They are involving about 40 staff and using their IT infrastructure for data entry. Young Herald, a young people's magazine has volunteered in organizing public Internet polling in Kathmandu. Channel Nepal, FM radio channels and print media are giving a very good coverage to GMC and "Say Yes" campaign. Daily newspapers supported the movement also by inserting the self-addressed/stamped aerogrammes in their publications free of cost.

- Web Page: GMC Nepal web site (www.gmc.org.np) is getting popular everyday and thousands of people visited the site within a period of one month. The site is regularly updated and getting more content. - Children's Convention/Fair/Interaction: Together with Save the Children (UK, US, Norway and Japan), Consortium of Organizations working with Child Clubs will organize a children's fair on 10 and 11 September 2001 in Kathmandu. About 150 children will participate in the fair and they will interact with the UNGASS delegates from Nepal, media and public to share their voices, key messages and common agenda. Save the Children UK is taking the lead in organizing the fair.

- Film on Children's Voice: The Movement against HIV/AIDS (Achham, Nepal) has been filmed, edited and the rough-cut has been shared with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. There is a plan to screen the film in NY during the Special Session.

Prepared by: Anil Raghuvanshi, UNGASS & GMC Coordinator Save the Children UK

Previous Paper (general) items

• 09/08/2001: Statement of Intent
• 02/08/2001: Oral Statement presented at the Second PrepCom
• 02/08/2001: Statements to Delegates on behalf of the Violence Against Children Caucus - Second PrepCom
• 25/07/2001: Towards a Children’s Agenda for Europe and Central Asia
• 24/07/2001: Child deaths by injury in rich nations

Organisation Contact Details:

Global Movement for Children Secretariat - Nepal
PO Box No. 8975
EPC 788
Kathmandu
Tel: 00 977 1 535159
Email: info@gmc.org.np
Website: www.gmc.org.np

Last updated 08/09/2001 17:34:36

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