| Once_again |
Posted
on 21-Nov-03 10:02 AM
I am posting an article that came on Nov. 21 on nepalnews.com. Child abuse is becoming a very important thing to be taken into consideration by all. As I am residing in US these days, I find pedophilia scandal in church and consequent verdict for that worst action taking an inevitable time of American media coverage. What an unfortunate again! with a Michael Jackson child molestation case. This article posted below is just for all the sajha members just to acknowledge them about such related facts and more about data that have been in Nepal. I haven't written any soutions nor any mere suggestions that I think I am responsible to give. As I find time, I would surely write more about it in coming days, hinting the things that we can give living far from our country Nepal. Anyway, I hope u would find it informative and essential thing to know from this report.
12,000 child-abuse cases in 5 yrs: Report
A total of 12,000 cases of child abuse were recorded in Nepal between 1996 and 2000, a study report unveiled on Thursday said. "Of the total cases, 493 cases involved rape, 334 murders, and 328 cases of pedophilia ."
"It is estimated that about five percent of the street children have been abused by the pedophiles," said the report, which was launched to mark the 14th International Children's Rights Day.
"Children at risk, such as street children, child workers and other underprivileged children, including children of Dalit communities are more prone to health risks due to exposure to various health hazardous conditions related to their work and lifestyle," the report said
"There is only one national level government hospital especially for children in Kathmandu and a doctor is available per 102,671 children." Diarrhoea kills as many as 30,000 children under-five years annually, more than any other disease in Nepal, it said.
On safe motherhood front, 87 percent of the deliveries take place at home, with over half of them assisted by a friend or relative, according to the report. "This has resulted in reproductive health problems, as well as problems to the newborn child."
On nutrition, the report said 54 percent of children below five years are affected by stunting (short for their age), due to malnutrition. "Urban children are less likely to be stunted (36 percent) than that of their rural counterparts (56 percent)."
On anemia, the report said 67 percent Nepali women are anemic with a prevalence of 75 percent among all pregnant women. "There are extremely high rates of anemia in children - 78 percent children below five years and 90 percent children between 6-11 months," the report said.
On child marriage, 34 percent of girls marry by the age of 15. Likewise, 63.2 percent of girls in the Far Western Region, 57.5 percent of girls who have never attended school and 74.2 percent of working girls marry before they reach 15.
On education front, the report said, "Nepal fell short of its goal of achieving universal primary education by 2000 because of resource constrains and the poor economic and social conditions. Yet, primary school enrolment showed considerable growth with the net enrolment ratio in 2000 standing at 80.4 percent, up from 64 percent in 1990."
On insurgency-affected children, the report could not specify the number of such children. "There are reports that the Maoists have been using children and youth to their movement, although detailed information about the situation and number of children is not available," said the report.
The report said a total of 596 children fell victim to (non-specified) violence during 1996-2000, while 153 children were accused of various crimes during the period.
There are nearly one million children under 16, living in the slums and squatter settlements of Nepal, the report said. The report has also depicted some positive aspects of Nepali children.
"Infant mortality case in Nepal has decreased to 64 per thousand in 2001 from 102 thousand in 1990," said the report. National Vitamin A program has been very successful, it said, adding, "The program is reaching 90 percent of the targeted children."
"Nepali has made significant progress in eradicating polio by 2005. The percent of children fully vaccinated has increased from 43.3 percent in 1996 to 54.5 percent in 2002," the report said.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare prepared the report under the assistance of Save the Children Norway. Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa launched the report amid a function Thursday.
The report was prepared in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to which Nepal is a signatory. nepalnews.com mr Nov 21
|
