Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP), the network of the child rights NGOs, opposed the decision of the UML affiliate All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU) to provide ANNFSU membership to children.

In a statement on Thursday, the CZOP has said, “Using children for political interest of the adults is misuse of the child rights in pretext of teaching them about child rights.”

The network further said, involving children in politically influenced organisation will violate their rights to freely participate in their subject of interest, study and develop their thoughts. Since such acts would influence children by party politics, the organisation has asked ANNFSU and the UML to withdraw the decision immediately.

The organisation further said the decision was against the commitments of the political parties including UML to recognise school and students as the zones of peace.

The ANNFSU during its 18th national conference held in Chitwan recently, had decided to include children as the full time membership of the organisation under the title ‘Bal Akhil’.

In a press conference organised by the union in the capital on Wednesday, the newly elected president Thakur Gaire said their planning was a part of their campaign to help children spread the message of child rights and encourage them to raise their concerns themselves effectively. According to him children from class I to class VII will be included in the organisation.