Kathmandu, 23 September, 2081 — A media interaction program aimed at promoting child rights, protection, participation, and safety was held at Alpha House, Nayabaneshwar, on Monday. The program, organized by Cwish, brought together media representatives, civil society members, and children to discuss the role of media in advocating for child rights and ensuring their well-being.

Presiding over the event, Cwish President Vimala Gyawali highlighted the media's crucial responsibility in amplifying issues related to children's safety and rights. "Investment in children is the foundation of a secure future for all of us," she emphasized during her address. The program commenced with a welcome speech by Ruza Pokharel, Team Leader of Cwish, who also underscored the significance of media engagement in the child protection sector.

Key speakers at the event Yuvraj Ghimire, a child Rights Activist, who presented a working paper on the relationship between child rights, child protection, and communication. He also elaborated on the necessary protocols for reporting on children's issues, emphasizing ethical journalism standards that safeguard children's identities and rights.

‘Although Nepal has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and made significant legal strides, speakers expressed concern over ongoing issues such as child labor, exploitation, and the lack of meaningful child participation’ Ghimire said. According to him, only 9 out of 303 local levels have appointed child welfare officers, despite the requirement, even though 23 local governments have been declared child-friendly, there is still much work to be done to ensure full implementation of child protection policies.

Concluding with the remark child rights activist Yuvraj Ghimire emphasized for increased collaboration between media professionals and child rights advocates to ensure consistent and responsible coverage of child-related issues across all forms of media.

Likewise, Abiral Thapa, Principal of Polygon College, led a session on the role of journalism education in promoting child-related issues. Thapa discussed various research studies conducted at the university level on children's issues and how media professionals can effectively integrate these topics into their reporting. He encouraged journalists to take the initiative in creating dedicated spaces—such as children's desks—in newsrooms to better focus on child-related news and ensure regular coverage.

During the program, participants engaged in group discussions about the current state of child rights reporting in the media and ways to improve it. Attendees also examined how child protection is addressed in Nepal's legal framework, including the Children Act, 2075, and the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056, while noting the gaps in their implementation.

With 35 participants, including 25 media staff representatives, 5 children, and 5 civil society members, the interaction was seen as an essential step toward reinforcing the media's role in ensuring child rights are prioritized in both policy and practice.