October 17, 2000

Kathmandu: The Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Kathmandu, signed an agreement today to implement a pilot project entitled “Towards the elimination of domestic child labour and child labour in small eating establishments in Kathmandu Metropolis”.

The programme will especially address the activities that are being performed under hazardous working conditions and environment, that involves the risk of physical violence, sexual harassment, work in isolation or at night and excessive working hours. Prominent activities include the establishment of a benchmark and registration of child workers, drop-in-centre facilities including educational alternatives for the working children.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Keshav Sthapit, the Mayor of KMC and Ms. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, Senior ILO Adviser of the ILO Kathmandu Office. Also present on the occasion was Mr. Y Amatya, the National Programme Manager of IPEC.

Similarly, ILO/IPEC has also entered into an agreement with Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre (LACC) to implement the Action Programme for “Providing legal aid and counselling to the victims of child labour, child abuse and exploitation”. This programme was built on the success of its first phase which was instrumental in providing legal redress to victims of child abuse and exploitation.

Legal practitioners, medical professionals and the general public also fall under the target group of this Programme in which sensitisation is an ongoing activity. District Bar Associations are also being mobilised so that child victims, at the district level, can also be provided with legal protection and social justice.

Dr. Shanta Thapaliya, the Chairperson of LACC and Ms. Tegmo-Reddy jointly signed the Agreement.

Both the programmes will be in action from November 2000.