Assistance to Child Victims of Conflict

The Dalit Welfare Organisation Sindhuli (DWO-S) runs this initiative to help children who have become victims of the conflict in Nepal by providing emergency assistance and rebuilding the social and cultural infrastructure on which their rights depend.

Description

The Maoist conflict in Nepal has either directly or indirectly affected almost all Nepali children and their families. The conflict has also interrupted and damaged the activities of many agencies directly related to children, such as schools and medical centres.

DWO-S therefore decided to create this programme to minimise the impact of the armed conflict on children, to make rehabilitation available to children, and to do as much as possible to save agencies related to children.

The DWO-S has also been able to promote the concept of ‘Children as a Zone of Peace’ through the initiative. This doctrine seeks to negate the impact of conflict on children and to protect those institutions most related to children from the effect of conflict.

Aims / Objectives

The initiative has seven aims:

• To develop the ability of individuals in the district who share the DWO-S’ concerns to minimise the impact of the conflict and to lobby the conflicting parties not to harm civilians;
• To monitor and document the state of children’s rights in a systematic manner;
• To promote the concept of ‘Children as a Zone of Peace’;
• To mitigate the psychological trauma of child victims of the conflict;
• To re-stabilise the provision of and access to education and health services for children;
• To provide emergency support to children affected by the conflict; and
• To make people aware of non-violent methods of conflict resolution.

How it is Articulated

The initiative started by running a survey to find out details on the ground about children affected by the conflict, their families, and the agencies and institutions relating to children. Following this, it has provided appropriate services to children, schools and medical centres, and to the public at large.

For children, the initiative provides interim shelter – where needed – and rehabilitation. If necessary, it is also possible for the initiative to provide them with psycho-social and trauma care and counselling. The programme also gets children admitted into schools and provides them with school uniforms and the necessary materials for education.

The initiative also works with schools and health posts. It repairs damage caused by the conflict and works to maintain the centres in good working order. It provides the staff with education and health materials, and provides training in psycho-social counselling and trauma assistance to teachers or other related people as well as general training in child rights.

To promote further the concept of ‘Children as a Zone of Peace’ to the public at large, the initiative commissions and displays posters, hoardings, and wall paintings advertising the doctrine.

Achievements / Learning Points

DWO-S has collected data on children affected by the conflict, their families, and affected agencies and institutions related to children. This has enabled the organisation to find out what individual needs there are. It has developed and implemented programmes based on the survey. There follows the achievements and learning points which have grown out of those programmes.

Emergency support to children affected by the conflict:

• Actual data gathered on children affected by the conflict;
• 15 children received medical support, food, and interim shelter;
• 17 children were rehabilitated and rejoined families; and
• DWO-S has formed five Village Child Protection Committees (VCPC) and one District Child Protection Committee (DCPC), and mobilised them to campaign for the rights of children and the rehabilitation of child victims of the conflict.

Continuity in the provision of and access to education and health for children:

• School places and uniforms provided for 87 children;
• 69 schools furnished with equipment (such as desks, benches, blackboards, educational materials, and sports equipment);
• Four medical centres provided with toilets, stretchers, and beds;
• One medical centre repaired and maintained;
• 35 teachers received training in ‘child-friendly’ teaching;
• 35 teachers received training in First Aid;
• Five schools repaired and maintained;
• 35 schools provided with First Aid boxes; and
• Extra peace activities introduced into the children’s days.

Mitigation of mental trauma and intervention in psychological disorders:

• 35 teachers and health workers trained as community psychological workers;
• 55 children affected by the conflict received psychological counselling;
• Poster advertising and dramas performed to make people aware of psychological counselling;
• Activities to promote the concept of ‘Children as a Zone of Peace’; and
• Three days’ training in children's rights for members of the children’s clubs.

DWO-S has learned that without addressing the grief and grievances of the victims of conflict, the post-conflict peace-building process remains incomplete. Justice for the victims needs to be secured during the post-conflict peace-building process. DWO-S took this into account in implementing the programmes for the rehabilitation of conflict victims.

Geographical Area of Operation

The Sindhuli district in the Janakpur zone

Funding Resources

Save the Children, Norway

Organisations Involved

• Dalit Welfare Organization central office, Kathmandu;
• Dalit NGOs Federation; and
• Laingik Samanata Sanjal - Sindhuli.