Discussion Program on Sexual Violence Against Children Concludes
A discussion program was organized on the occasion of ‘Blue Umbrella Day’ to raise public awareness against sexual violence against children in Nepal. The event, held through a joint initiative of Voice of Children and Family For Every Child Global Alliance, presented findings and recommendations from studies on sexual violence against children. Blue Umbrella Day is observed annually on April 16 since 2021 to increase awareness about cases of sexual violence against children and to advocate for relevant policy changes.
Chief guest of the program, Chakrabhadur Budha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, praised the leadership role played by Voice of Children in the field of child rights protection. He informed that amendments to the Child Rights Act 2075 are underway, with suggestions being gathered from concerned bodies and individuals. Indra Devi Dhakal, Secretary of the National Child Rights Council, emphasized that ending violence against children is only possible through collaboration among the government and stakeholders.
Krishnakumar Thapa, Executive Director of Voice of Children, highlighted that it is a misconception that only women, adolescent girls, and female children are victims of sexual violence, revealing that boys are also at risk, making Blue Umbrella Day a critical platform to shed light on these facts. Senior Program Manager of Voice of Children, Kriti Bhattarai, presented statistical data on sexual violence against children during the event.
She noted that due to social values and norms, patriarchal mindsets, and the belief that “boys must always be strong,” children often find it difficult to disclose the abuse they have suffered. According to Nepal Police Cyber Bureau data, 253 children were affected by cybercrimes in fiscal year 2079/80, which increased to 351 in fiscal year 2080/81. Youth participants in the program stressed the need for effective policies and practical measures to ensure child protection.