As part of its ongoing #DeinstitutionalizationCampaign, Disability Human Rights Promotion Society (DHRPS) Nepal organized a powerful roundtable discussion aimed at validating the lived realities of children with disabilities, orphans, and street-connected children. The discussion brought together Youth Ambassadors and community voices to examine the root causes that continue to push children into institutional care.
The dialogue explored how education barriers, poverty, and systemic neglect are deeply interconnected with the institutionalization of children. Participants collectively reflected on the fact that institutionalization is often presented as a solution, while in reality it violates children’s rights and creates long-term emotional, social, and developmental harm.
Through open and inclusive discussion, participants reaffirmed several key messages. They emphasized that separation from families is a violation of child rights, that institutional care often results in isolation and trauma, and that sustainable solutions must focus on inclusive education, community-based support systems, and family-centered care. The roundtable provided a space where lived experiences and local knowledge shaped the conversation and informed advocacy strategies.
The discussion also served as a strategic moment for the campaign, helping DHRPS and its partners refine their approach based on the voices of young people and affected communities. Rather than speaking for children, the campaign continues to prioritize listening, learning, and collective action.
Following the roundtable, DHRPS extended an open call to the wider public to join the growing movement for deinstitutionalization. Community members were encouraged to share photos and messages carrying the campaign slogan:
“Every Child Has the Right to Live with Their Family!”
“हरेक बालबालिकालाई आफ्नो परिवारसँग बस्ने अधिकार छ !”
Participants and supporters were also invited to share reflections from their conversations—what they discovered, what challenged their assumptions, and what changed their understanding through dialogue with others.
The #DeinstitutionalizationCampaign continues to grow as more voices join the call for justice, inclusion, and dignity. The campaign is not just raising awareness—it is building a movement committed to ensuring that every child grows up surrounded by family, care, and belonging, not institutional walls.
