Introduction,Background,Objectives, Features of the club

Introduction

Jagriti Child Club Nepal (JCCN) was established in 9 April 1992 in Pragatinagar VDC in Nawalparasi district. Initially the club was named as Nawa Prabhat Child Club. Later the name was changed into Jagriti Child Club Nepal in 1995. It was established with seven children. The club was formed for the right and welfare of children to make them active as per Convention on Rights of a Child, 1989. Children used the club as a vehicle for the right and welfare of children and to make them active according to CRC. It is the organization, which has arisen the voice demanding the rights for the children to set up a club without citizenships. It is the first registered child club of Nepal.

Background

Jagriti Child Club Nepal has been working for welfare and rights of children in Nawalparasi district since 1992. During a protest of opposition in April 6, 1992, an innocent seven year old onlooker was shot at in Kathmandu and many innocent children were wounded. Against that tyranny, a child club was set-up aiming to protect children and child rights. When the club sought for formal registration in 1997, it was denied by District Administration Office, Nawalparasi stating that children below 16 years don’t have citizenship so they could not allow JCCN’s registration. Later JCCN went to Home Ministry for its formal registration but they were denied by Home Ministry as well in 1998. Consequently, a case was filed, with the help of CWIN, on the Supreme Court of Nepal on January 18, 1999 by Mr. Tilottam Paudel, who was the president of the club at that time. The case was filed on the basis of section 12 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC), 1989. The particular section makes clear provision for children’s right to open organizations and their participation in such organized activities. According to the law of Nepal any ratified international law is equally valid as the law of the land. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of Nepal decided in the favor of child club in August 9, 2001 and making JCCN first child club of Nepal to registered formally. After the legal battle of eight years, District Administration Office of Nawalparasi finally registered the club in September 9, 2007. It was possible because the Supreme Court gave its verdict in the favor of .Jagriti Child Club. The verdict of Supreme Court has opened doors for child clubs across Nepal to get formal registration. All child clubs are encouraged to form networking and share problems, experiences and organize together. It was affiliated in District Children Welfare Board (DCWB no. 1) in 2001, registered in District Administration Office Nawalparasi (DAO no. 1203) in 2007 and affiliated by Social Welfare Council (SWC no. 23781) in 2007. But, affiliation to DCWB has no legitimacy. It was done, after the case was filed, only for registration even though law did not allow then.
Similarly, it is one of the members of Pragatinagar Village Child Club Network. Meanwhile, the club is presiding the network. As of June 25, 2011, there were 1500 members around the country; and, 150 members in Pragatinagar VDC alone. The club is one of the pioneers to pressurize stakeholders for declaration of child-friendly VDC since 2005. Eventually, Pragatinagar VDC has been declared as first child-friendly VDC in 24 December, 2013.

Objectives

1. To make children, their parents, and other family members aware about child rights
2. To foster the creativity of children
3. To advocate, promote, implement and usage of major four rights mentioned on Convention on Rights of a Child (CRC), 1989 which was passed by UN member countries and ratified by Nepal on September 14, 1990. The major four rights mentioned on CRC, 1989 are:
   1. Children’s right to live
   2. Children’s right to protection
   3. Children’s right to development
   4. Children’s right to participation
4. To organize various programs on local level to ensure welfare and rights of children
5. To raise voice for protection of arts, literature, social harmony, native language, native culture, and education; and raising voice against social evils and incidence of child rights violation
6. To lead meaningful participation of children from local  level to national level

 Features of the club

• Nepal’s first and historical child club established in April 6, 1992
• Partner to build nationally and internationally recognized child-friendly Village Development Committee
• Regular auditing
• Bank account in its own name
• Regular publication of “Bal Indreni” every year
• Backbone for shaping independent youths
• Students of Bachelors in Law have to study about the club case