CWIN is committed to building up and empowering a nation-wide child rights movement in the country through social awareness process. Child rights is not an isolated issue, but is a part of a broader movement for social change. Therefore, CWIN aims to integrate children's issues into all kinds of social movements for peace, justice and equality.

CWIN has been advocating children's rights for survival, protection, development and participation through the social awareness process. It involves campaigns, public opinion mobilization and policy lobbying for child's rights in general and children at risk in particular. Even though all CWIN effort has been concentrated upon child's rights, it has paid attention to different developing trends in the country with a view towards building active partnership. CWIN believes that for an effective movement to protect children from harm and exploitation and to ensure their rights, not only solidarity of social action groups is imperative, but also requires initiatives and involvement of the general public.

Networking and alliance building has been a priority working strategy of CWIN. Over the last one decade and more, CWIN has initiated joint activities with a number of like-minded individuals, groups and organizations through the process of :

• Alliance building
• Coalition
• Partnership
• Friends of CWIN
• Solidarity in action

CWIN is a part of a number of local, national, regional and international networks and alliances on the issues of:

• Child labor
• Street children
• Child trafficking and child prostitution
• Children in jail, children in conflict with laws and juvenile justice
• Child abuse and neglect
• Human rights
• Trade and labor
• Domestic violence
• HIV-AIDS

CWIN is an activist non-governmental social organization for the rights of the child. Concerned with the rights, dignity and development of children working and living in the most difficult circumstances, CWIN works for the social emancipation of children from servitude. In brief, CWIN is:

• The first child's rights organization in Nepal
• Initiator of alliance building work for the Rights of the Child
• Is a non-profit making initiative to strengthen and empower the rights of the child movement with a mission of "action through advocacy".
• Is an independent and non-partisan social movement against child labor exploitation and child servitude.
• Is a solidarity in action rather than a charity institution for the welfare, development and dignity of children, especially those at risk.
• Is a community awareness and empowerment process in order to make children a reliable source of hope for future prosperity.
• Is a research/information dissemination, training/education/advocacy and development program for child rights and child development.
• Is an action for children with children

CWIN was formed by a group of university student activists. They aspired to raise the issue of child labor and child rights for the social emancipation of children from all form of exploitation, and for the integration of child's rights into the broader social movement for freedom, peace and equality. They decided to start a concern group to help protect children living and working in the most difficult circumstances.

To hold the torch to forward the child's rights movement, however, there was a complete dearth of appropriate philosophy and vision. Children, the neglected majority, did not have much standing on the adult dominated society. Welfare and service for the children were merely viewed as charity and had conservative approaches. The initiators of the CWIN wanted to change that perception owing to their knowledge of the international declarations and convention on the rights of the child which recognized the child as an integral component of the society with their inherent rights to survival, well being, protection and freedom. Children are to be nurtured with the best the mankind has to offer and need special treatment because of their vulnerable disposition.

General Objectives:
     Strongly believing in and supporting the UN declaration on the Rights of the Child and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, CWIN aims to build up and empower a nationwide social movement in order to uproot all forms of exploitation and oppression of children through the social awareness movement, so that children of Nepal and elsewhere may be able to enjoy a dignified childhood.

Specific Objectives:

• Work for the immediate abolition of child bonded labor/children in servitude and for the progressive elimination of child labor in general.
• Promote and protect the rights of the child with a mission of "action through advocacy".
• Keep abreast of the realities of working children and children living at risk through regular action research, lobbying, empowerment activities and solidarity in action.
• Organize both local and international concerned groups and campaign against all forms of child servitude, including child labor, trafficking and sale of children, child marriage, child bonded labor and all forms of crime against children.
• Formulate and conduct basic child development and support activities for underprivileged children at both local and national levels.

Vision:
     CWIN recognizes the Child as an inherent component of society deserving the best that it has to offer. CWIN believes that every child has an inherent right to justice, peace and freedom, and deserves access to all fundamental human rights including education, health care, love, respect, security and protection. CWIN recognizes child labor as a form of socio-economic exploitation of children covering the denial of basic education, long working hours, under or no payment, forced labor, and health hazardous working conditions.

Mission:

• Develop and establish a model of "Action Through Advocacy" for the social awareness movement on the rights of the child based in the Nepali context.
• Develop and establish a model of socialization center for children working and living in the most difficult circumstances.
• Develop and Establish a model for the rehabilitation of the children at risk through community awareness and Family Reunion Process
• Initiate Alliances for the rights of the child
• Thereby develop an alternative movement for the rights of the child through a sustainable, self-reliant and participatory way.

Philosophy:
     Strongly believing in the perception of the Rights of the Child, CWIN determines to build up and empower a nationwide social movement in order to uproot all forms of exploitation and oppression of children through the social awareness movement, so that children of Nepal and elsewhere may be able to enjoy a dignified childhood rights.

Beliefs:
     Children are an integral part of the society. No society will achieve peace, prosperity and justice in absence of justice for children. Therefore, working for children is not mere charity, it is an action for social change. Therefore, we believe that working for children is:

• action not charity
• action for children with children
• action for social change
• participation not patronization
• partnership in action

Children in general and children at risk in particular are the focus groups of CWIN. Working children, street children, children in conflict with the laws, child survivors of commercial sexual exploitation are the specific target groups for CWIN.

CWIN Programs of Action

• Action through Advocacy
       Lobbying, campaigning & social conscientisation on rights of the child, social mobilization,
       child's rights forums, publication and media sensitization, and production of campaign
       materials.
• Child Rights Forum
       The child rights forum is the forum of children for children to contribute in the broader
       movement of the rights of the child.
• Action Research & Training
       About 30 action research, studies and survey studies undertaken, published and
       disseminated publicly.
• Resource Information Center
       Information maintained on 150 child related titles. Collection of about 2000 books and
       reports, 205 different periodicals, 40 different newspapers, 200 videos, about 5000
       articles, photographs on 40 different titles, slides on 25 titles and 150 different posters on
       children and related issues.
• Partnership, Networking and Alliance Building
       At local, national, regional and international levels to strengthen the child rights movement.
• Rescue, Repatriation, Socialization and Social Re-integration for    Children at Risk:
  

  CWIN Socialization Center (since 1989)       Drop in center for street children CWIN Children's Home (since 1994, terminated on 1999)       Transit center for children under 10 CWIN Center for Children at Risk (since 1995)       Rescue, relief and rehabilitation center for boys above 10 CWIN Center for Girls at Risk (since 1995)       Transit center for girl children at risk CWIN Socialization Center, Pokhara (since 1995)       Socialization center for street and working children in Pokhara CWIN Educational Support Program since 1992)       Education sponsorship prog. for children in need CWIN Center for Self -reliance (since 1995)       Skill training/education prog. for children above 14 CWIN Student Hostel (since 1998)       Hostel for CWIN sponsored school children CWIN Health Clinic and Counseling Service (since 1992)       Health clinic, Sick Room and Counseling Service for street and children at risk       (30 children per day) CWIN Help-line (since 1998)       Emergency relief and counseling service for children at risk including victims of       child abuse and violence. CWIN Contact Center (since 1999)       Center for migrant children at risk

Nationally, CWIN has played a major role as an advocate organization for the establishment and recognition of previous 'non-issues' into 'issues':

• Child Rights has been established as a strong socio-political agenda.
• The issue of child labor has been recognized as one of the alarming problem and violation of human rights by the government of Nepal>
• Issue of trafficking in women and children across Nepal-India border and third countries has been realized in the national, regional and international arena.
• Children's Act 1992, Labor Act 1992, Bill on Child labor Prevention and Control Act 1998, and Policy on child labor and children at risk have been established.

As an organization, CWIN has accomplished several model programs:

• SOS support for children at risk
• Rescue, repatriation and reintegration program for children at risk
• Information and networking center with reading room facility
• Community awareness on the rights of the child
• Training and capacity building work to strengthen the rights of the child movement

Partnership in action to strengthen and empower the rights of the child movement in Nepal is one of the major objectives of CWIN. Since its inception, CWIN has been closely working with the like-minded organization to help protect children at risk. There are a number of organizations working in local level, regional level and international level to prevent the problem and to improve the situation of children at risk. CWIN has been closely working with that organization which is close to the objectives and philosophy of CWIN.

Redd Barna, the Norwegian Save the Children, FORUT-Norway, CAR-NWG, GRT- Italy and PLAN International are the main partners of CWIN for undertaking of its current activities. A number of people involving in the "Friends of CWIN" program are also important members for the CWIN movement. At the same time, CWIN has been working together with different groups including child rights, women's rights, human rights, trade unions and community groups to protect the rights of the child in Nepal. On a number of occasions, CWIN is working together with HMG/Nepal, UNICEF and ILO for the promotion and protection of child's rights in the country.

Founder Members and General Assembly of CWIN play a vital role in deciding the future plans of action of CWIN. The elected Executive Committee, consisting of seven members, is responsible for translating the basic objectives of CWIN into practice. The Executive Coordinator, a nominee of the Executive Committee, looks after the everyday activities of CWIN. As guided by the Executive Committee, the CWIN Program Committee headed by the Executive Coordinator runs the day-to-day activities. The staff of CWIN regularly meets to review and monitor the ongoing programs of action. Similarly, to make the CWIN activities more efficient and result oriented, a special Advisory Committee consisting of professionals, experts, child rights activists etc., is set up accordingly.

CWIN is basically a voluntary social organization. CWIN does not accept funds from any donor organization with terms and conditions contradictory to the CWIN principle of independence in action. In order to organize its regular activities, such as advocacy, welfare and rehabilitation programs for children in need, the Fund Raising Committee of CWIN collects donations, support and contributions from its members, well wishers and like-minded organizations. CWIN believes in partnership and solidarity among like-minded institutions.

For the transparency of the financial position of CWIN, it releases periodical and annual financial reports for public knowledge. A government-registered auditor checks the CWIN income and expenditure statements.

With 1998, CWIN completes its 12 years in action for the rights of children focusing on children at risk. During that time, CWIN not only raised the voice for voiceless children but also made effort in converting the non-issues into issues and issues into political agenda. In the changed context, issues of child labor, street children, child debt bondage, child prostitution, trafficking and selling of children, children in adult prisons and violence against children have become both social and political agenda in the country. Along with other social movements, CWIN has played a very significant role in bringing about this change. Today CWIN has been established as a social awareness organization dedicated to the cause of the rights of the child. CWIN believes that every child is an integral part of society deserving the best it has to offer. CWIN is also fighting against every form of exploitation and oppression, which violates the rights of the child. Therefore, the whole concern of CWIN has been directed towards a child-centered new world where children are not only free from exploitation, violence and slavery but are also ensured a dignified childhood. It believes that the rights of the child movement is an integral part of the boarder social movement.

Each problem related to children reflects the state of the society. Most children generally do not land on the areas of risk by themselves - they are pushed down by the socio-economic factors of their circumstances. Generalizing the problems of children at risk without any proper analysis will fail to lead to the bottom of the problem and the strategy planning developed for the target children will be ineffective in practice. Principally, we all think that children have got the first right to receive humanitarian support at a time of emergency; therefore, all children living at risk should be prioritized for their overall development. But the existing situation does not reflect these principles and the reality is the opposite. To work for children is not only a welfare work. It is empowerment, motivation and networking of people and groups for action.

Empowerment does not mean imposition at all. It goes along with the independence and autonomy of the movement. No social movement can have an impact on the status of children until and unless the strategies meet the depth of the magnitude of problem. The ROC is a commitment and action through mobilization, motivation, networking and organization. In this movement, we will be able to find a way through differences and gain power through the similarities. ROC is a socio-political issue, but demands every individual, group and political party to rise above personal, social or political interests while working for it. It is imperative to effectively translate this Act into reality. For this, political commitment, social awareness and active public participation and mobilization are essential.

Implementing the Rights of the Child is the major obligation of the government. But it cannot be realized in reality if the government fails to motivate, empower and support the movement on the rights of the child. Each section of our society is concerned with children and is obliged to fulfill their obligations for the restoration the rights of every child. Each people's movement will be incomplete if one doesn't give enough emphasis to the rights of the child. We are all duty bound to ensure the survival rights, development rights and participation rights of children and for this, the best interest of child must come first.

The movement on the rights of the child is mainly concentrated in the cities and towns and most of the remote rural areas are still untouched by it. Unless we brought the message of the rights of the child movement in the rural and deprived areas, we cannot build up a real movement in this regard. Therefore, in order to change this situation, HMG agencies, INGOs, NGOs and other organizations working for the benefit of the children should focus their activities for the social awareness. The rights of the child movement is basically a participatory activity and without this participation of people at all levels, it can not be achieved.

The future of CWIN will be guided by its policy of "Action through Advocacy" based on the principles of social justice and human rights with a high priority on people's participation, including that of children themselves. Child Rights: Concern for All will continue to be CWIN's working motto.

Children in Nepal
     (Out of 100 Children)

51 are girls, 49 are boys
89 live in the villages, 11 live in cities
80 are immunized, 56 are malnourished
40 belong to extremely poor families
70 are admitted to school, but only 53 complete primary level
79 boys and 61 girls are enrolled in primary level
IN Nepal 52% of total population are children below 18 years
Every year about 779000 babies are born
Every year 78,000 children die
Everyday 206 children lose their life
45,000 children die of diarrhea every year
There is only one Children's Hospital
There is one child specialist to 1,02,671 children
Only 71% population has access to potable water
There are 23,885 primary schools
2.6 million children are engaged in different sectors of child labor
Girls aged 10-14 work double as compared to boys in the same age group
At least 40,000 children are bonded labor
5000 children are working and living on the streets
1500 pregnant mothers out of 100,000 die in childbirth every year
Annually 5000-7000 women and children are trafficked to India
34% of marriage involves children below 15 years
About 100 children are in adult jail

Sources: CWIN/CBS/UNICEF/Ministry of Education/ILO-IPEC/Family Planning Project-UNFPA/Nepal Medical Council