"We decided to do something for the children and this led to the establishment of Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN) on the 1st of January 1987 with 15-20 University students. We tried to bring a new message through our organisation, which was clear from the beginning - working for a social change and not social charity." "My curiosity prompted me to question the authorities as to why were the children taken into custody? The answer shocked me. I was told that they were put into the cell for the so-called 'protection' and to avoid unnecessary loitering on the streets before the arrival of the Queen. No one before me protested or even questioned this action of the police, which I learnt was a regular act on their part."

Gauri Pradhan
Founder President of Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN),
South Asian Regional Coordinator of Global March

Tell us briefly about your background and how you came to be attached with the issue of child labour.

Let me go back to my University days when Nepal was ruled by the monarchy. Nepal did not have democracy and being a human rights' activist since University days, we were fighting for the restoration of democracy in our country. While doing so I found that children's issues were not well addressed. People were mostly concerned about the issues of the adults. I wanted to bring children’s rights and issues on the global forum. In 1985-86, the draft of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) inspired me and at once I told myself that something must be done. We translated the CRC into Nepali, started sensitising people, organised events and activities focusing on child rights’ issues. We decided to do something for the children and this led to the establishment of Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN) on the 1st of January 1987 with 15-20 University students. We tried to bring a new message through our organisation, which was clear from the beginning - working for a social change and not social charity.

What is your organisation's main area of focus?

We initiated the first South Asian meeting in Kathmandu on child labour inviting child activists. This meeting laid the foundation of South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS). I am particularly concerned about the street children who are the most vulnerable lot, often neglected, abused and exploited. My involvement with street children took an interesting turn with an incident connected with the visit of the Queen in 1995. The announcement of the arrival of the Queen was marked with protests from a group of Nepali soldiers who were demanding equal treatment alongside their British counterparts. These soldiers were arrested and put into the jail before she arrived in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. We also staged a peaceful demonstration supporting the cause of the Nepali soldiers. When we went to meet the soldiers in the jail, I noticed a bunch of children huddled in a corner. My curiosity prompted me to question the authorities as to why were the children taken into custody? The answer shocked me. I was told that they were put into the cell for the so-called 'protection' and to avoid unnecessary loitering on the streets before the arrival of the Queen. No one before me protested or even questioned this action of the police, which I learnt was a regular act on their part. Street children became a major area of focus and gradually I started getting associated with other activities as well.

What are the latest activities of CWIN?

15 years ago CWIN was a small organisation. Now it is the South Asian regional coordinator of Global March. The main areas that we concentrate upon are child trafficking, juvenile justice and child marriage. We have 25 different activities, rescue operations through our helplines, transit centres for rescued children though our ultimate goal is to reintegrate them into society and to make them self reliant. CWIN also promotes child participation and have facilitated in setting up children’s organisations. I would like to make an interesting point in this regard. Initially, the magistrate was not registering organisations of the children stating that they were young and below the age of 18 years. We appealed against this and also tried to draw support through our website and other means. We got response from Mexico and other Latin American countries where children have opened and registered their own organisations. The Supreme Court finally gave a verdict in our favour. In these organisations children are taught about their rights, how to conduct various activities and organise events. When we see the rescued children working as activists, it gives us a tremendous sense of satisfaction. We also tried to set up similar kinds of groups in schools where the school children talk about the importance of education with those who never had the chance to attend school.

How have you tried to sensitise the people on this issue?

Through Village Development Community / Panchayat (VDC) we try to sensitise the local people. Our resource centre and website is also visited regularly which helps in disseminating information. We have also tried to sensitise the people who are using children as armed soldiers. Nepal is facing a war and currently there is a ceasefire. As a result of this war, 8000 Nepalese children have been displaced. CWIN has initiated a very important programme - ' Children are Zones of Peace' which has been joined by 100 such organisations throughout the country. We deal with not only child soldiers but also children affected by war. It is a challenge for our social workers to work and rescue children being used in war. Many kids are from the nearby districts and we try to rescue and reintegrate them in their own villages. Only in severe cases we bring them to Kathmandu. Now we have a commitment from the convener of the Maoists that they do not have children below 18 years of age as child soldiers. He has made a public statement and now we have this statement in our hands as a proof. Because of our campaigns we have been able to sensitise the public and we are trying to push for a human rights' cell of the Maoists.

How can the Internet be used in the work of an NGO?

Internet has opened a door for all. In the past Internet was used only by corporates and businessmen. Now NGOs also use it a lot. Time has come to address the social issues through the net. Interesting connections have been established through the net. I met a lot of like-minded people whom I have not seen earlier and also established contact with other organisations. The Internet helps us in linking with other websites and developing better partnerships to strengthen our cause.