COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, — South Asian nations have pledged to accelerate efforts to end violence against children following a high-level regional conference that brought together government leaders, child protection experts, and development partners in Sri Lanka.
The South Asia Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children (SAMC-EVAC), held in Colombo on June 23–24, was jointly convened by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Government of Sri Lanka, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.
The conference served as a platform for ministers and senior officials from across South Asia to review progress, share experiences, and strengthen regional cooperation to address violence against children in all its forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and online abuse.
Addressing delegates, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya underscored the collective responsibility of governments and societies to ensure every child grows up in a safe and supportive environment.
Participants reaffirmed that ending violence against children is both a moral obligation and a critical development priority. They emphasized that investments in prevention, social protection, family support services, and comprehensive child protection systems contribute to stronger and more resilient societies.
SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar stressed that protecting children is essential to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, noting that progress toward the 2030 Agenda depends on safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children.
The conference built on commitments made during the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children held in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2024, as well as a regional ministerial information-sharing meeting hosted in Kathmandu in 2025. Delegates reviewed national efforts to strengthen legal frameworks, expand child protection services, improve reporting mechanisms, and promote violence prevention initiatives.
A key focus of the discussions was the Child Protection Systems Strengthening Framework, which participants described as an important roadmap for coordinated action across health, education, justice, social welfare, and law enforcement sectors.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, called for stronger cross-border and multi-stakeholder cooperation, emphasizing that multilateral partnerships remain vital for advancing child protection and wellbeing.
Children’s perspectives were also highlighted during the conference. Sasindu Ranmith, a 17-year-old student and President of Sri Lanka’s National Children’s Council, urged leaders to improve access to support services and strengthen trust in protection systems.
Throughout the two-day meeting, delegates exchanged lessons learned and innovative approaches to preventing violence against children. They called for increased investment in data systems, workforce capacity, social protection programmes, and evidence-based prevention services.
Nepal Highlights Progress and Challenges
Nepal’s delegation, led by Secretary Radhika Aryal of the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security, presented progress made in strengthening child protection systems.
Among the achievements highlighted were ongoing legislative reforms, the establishment of a dedicated juvenile court, adoption of the National Plan of Action for Children 2026, expansion of child welfare officer positions, enhancement of child helpline services, and improvements in digital referral and monitoring systems through the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS).
Despite these advances, Nepal acknowledged persistent challenges. Data from the Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2024–2025 indicate that 27.6 percent of girls are married before the age of 18, 78.7 percent of children experience violent discipline, 12 percent of children are engaged in child labour, and 9.3 percent of young people report symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Nepal emphasized the need for accelerated implementation of reforms, stronger child-responsive budgeting, sustainable financing, and a professional child protection workforce to address these issues effectively.
The conference concluded with a regional call to strengthen implementation of commitments, enhance monitoring of progress, and expand collaboration among governments, civil society organizations, and development partners to ensure that all children in South Asia can grow up free from violence.
