A recent meeting in Kathmandu brought together various organizations and experts to discuss the Disability Rights Movement in Nepal and its connection to the well-being of Children with Disabilities. Representatives from Save The Children Nepal, CWISH, the UN, Just For Nepal (JFN), Future Generation Nepal, and RCRD were among those present.
The gathering aimed to establish a regular platform for sharing priorities, challenges, and action plans concerning children with disabilities living in different institutions across Nepal. Disability Human Rights Promotion Society (DHRPS) and Ability Manch organized a half-day interaction program on December 13, 2023, at Hotel Hardik in Bagbazar, Kathmandu.
The main focus of the event was to explore the formation of an expert group that could actively contribute to the deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities and improve their access to quality education. Mr. Manish Prasai emphasized the challenges faced by children with disabilities in Nepal, including issues related to early identification, education, and protection from abuse.
Despite the 2021 census revealing that only 2.2 percent of Nepal’s population reported experiencing disability, the government’s commitment to disability inclusion remains low. The disability movement in Nepal has faced fragmentation and challenges due to heavy politicization in recent years, impacting policy advocacy and report production.
Participants at the meeting pledged to act as a network for children with disabilities, focusing on the gradual closure of resource classes and the promotion of deinstitutionalization. They also decided to assess SDG implementation, particularly regarding access to inclusive education, by selecting two municipalities from each province and collecting relevant data. This data will be used for advocacy efforts with the UN, bilateral agencies, and international partners, with a specific emphasis on funding tracking for disability inclusion.
Recommendations and commitments emerged from the meeting, including the establishment of expert groups to support local OPDs and government tiers and the exploration of intergenerational knowledge transfer to strengthen the disability rights movement in Nepal. These actions aim to create a common understanding and momentum across all generations involved in the cause.
