Advocating the Rights of the Children (ARC) has participated in the regional workshop on strengthening child participation at SAARC level, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 8 to 15 December 2016. Secretary General, Muruthala Moosa represented ARC in this workshop.
The overall objective of the workshop and the training was to equip National Action Coordinating Groups (NACGs) of SAARC countries with skill and information to improve child participation at the national and regional level. The workshop was also attended by representatives of the ASEAN region, to share their best practices with regard to the ethical participation of children and to discuss existing national and regional barriers and how they could be addressed.
15 children from the SAARC region, including one from the Maldives also attended the Conference. The children contributed to the development of the SAIEVAC strategy to counter child sexual exploitation and abuse in the SAARC region, and also selected two child representatives from the region to present and promote their agenda.
SAIEVAC is SAARC’s intergovernmental and apex body to end violence against children, operated in partnership with governments and civil society. ARC currently chairs the NACG Maldives’ and Care Society, Hand in Hand and the Society for Health Education are also members of the NACG, while UNICEF is a partner of NACG Maldives.