1. Who is a child?

All human below the age of 18 are children as per United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). On 18th birthday, childhood ends. Nepal government also defines child from the same definition.

2. What are children’s rights to parental care?

Children have right to receive care from their parents in family environment. There are seven fundamental rights of children’s rights to parental care. They are

• right to appropriate direction and guidance,
• right to protection and care,
• right to no separation from parents unless it is in the best interest of a child,
• right to birth registration and citizenship processed by parents,
• right to upbringings and development,
• right to appropriate living condition provisioned by parents, and
• right to stay in touch with birth parents in case of adoption.  and Guidance

3. Who are children out of parental care?

All children who are not in the overnight care of at least one of their parents, for whatever reason and under whatever circumstances are the children out of parental care.

4. What is child separation from parental care?

Children out of parental care, living away from a supportive, protective and caring family environment called child separation from parental care.

5. What does child separation look like?

Children living in larger residential institutions, child care home, boarding schools, employer facilities where children do not go frequently to stay with their parents are children in separation.

6. Is it good to separate children from their parents?

No, separation of children from their parents is not good for children unless living with the parents is not in the best interest of a child where children are in the state of abuse, neglect from parents or parents are not able to take care of children or parents are involved in crime. Unnecessary child separation is harmful to children.

7. What are the harms of child separation?

Studies have shown clearly that parent–child separations, whether voluntary from parents or involuntary have negative consequences in cognitive, social-emotional, and mental health of children. The separation is disruptive to adult–child relationships, peer relationships as well. These children are most likely to be exposed to violence against children as physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, trafficking and involvement in crimes. The separated children either live in institutions or live in situation of deprivation of love, warmth and secure attachment.

8. What is institutionalization of children?

Large number of children separated from their parents, living together in the same building or compound and raised by personnel who are paid to care for them, work in shifts, are called institutionalized children. The phenomenon is called institutionalization of children.

9. How do we identify institutions?

An institution is isolated residential structure from the broader community. It is secured by the use of high walls or fences, barbed wire, guards on the gate. Some of them have provision of schools on their site. Children’s contact with their birth parents, extended families and to the outer community are discouraged.

10. Is institutionalization of children good for children?

No, institutionalization of children is not good for children. It is harmful to children. The 80 years of experiences, research and outcome of children in institutions are proved that institutionalization harms children. According to Lumos (2019), a study in one country with 15,000 young people after they left institutions have found that 1 in 5 committed crimes; 1 in 7 became a prostitute; and 1 in 10 took their own lives.

11. Why institutionalization is harmful to children?

In institution, a culture of regime is present to take care of children than the culture of nurturance. Individual care of a child is generally not carried out. Needs of the organization come before the needs of individual child. The chances of neglectful behaviors (e.g. children not fed sufficiently, babies are left in soiled nappies for long periods) and restrictive or dangerous measures of control to children are present. Even when children do not suffer direct abuse and neglect, they are still harmed by the lack of an opportunity to form an attachment which is detrimental to positive child development.

12. Why do children separate from parents in countries like Nepal?

There are three major reasons behind child separation in a developing country like Nepal.

• Poverty is the first cause of separation. Lack of capacity to fulfill the basic needs of family pushed parents to send their children away.
• Next is the parental belief that children receive better living condition in institution and the perception that children get access to better standard of education to improve their life opportunities.
•  The third cause is the weak child protection system in the country and lack of family support policy and program to keep children with the families.

Political conflicts, domestic conflicts and disaster also separate children from their parents.

13. Is child separation a problem only in Nepal?

No, it is not only problem in Nepal. It is a global problem which has not been prioritized earlier. Due to this, the practice of sending children to institutional care has been legitimized in community as social norms. Globally, approximately 2.7 million children between the ages of 0 to 17 are living in residential care which is 120/100,000, (UNICEF, 2017) while a study of 2020, shows around 4 million children in residential care, (Desmond, Watt, Saha and Lu, 2020). It is a global concern.

14. Why do we need to prevent children from separation?

Family is the natural environment of nurturance for children where their different needs of development are met with the care and security. A secure attachment is necessary for children to explore the world to grow in their fullest potential.  Parental care in a family provides that care. It also saves children from life threatening events, maltreatments, violence and trafficking except in few exceptional cases. Hence, preventing child separation is necessary to prevent any condition that defies the best interest of the child.

15. What are the acts/laws against child separation in Nepal?

The Act Relating to Children, 2075 (2018), ensure the rights of children to live with their parents.  The section 6-1 ensures the right of a child to live meet with the parents as no child shall be spilt or separated from his or her father or mother without his or her will unless it is necessary for the best interest of a the child (the Juvenile Court may issue an order to separate any child from his or her father or mother and entrust him or her to any guardian's custody for the best interests of the child, if necessary.) Sections 4-1, 4-2, 6-1, 6-4, 6-5, 7-1 to 6, 7-10, 13-1,13-3, 17-1,17-3 have ensured the children rights to parental care, guidance, registration of name and identity, protection, standards of living and receiving basic needs and if adopted meeting the birth parents. The Act has punishment of fine up to one hundred thousand rupees for the any guardian or any family member including mother and father does not fulfil his or her liabilities or if the mother, father or guardian alters the name and surname of the child with the intention of acquiring undue benefits or misappropriates the child’s property (72-2).

16. What is stopchildseparation.org for?

stopchildseparation.org is an online resource center co-designed by two national organizations of Nepal, namely Children-Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWISH) and School of Social Work, Kadambari Memorial College for promoting children’s rights to parental care and stop unnecessary separation of children in Nepal.

17. Why is stopchildseparation.org created?

It is co-created to provide space for accessing information and knowledge to parents, families, child right workers and more to promoting children’s rights to parental care. It aspires to be online knowledge management platform for parents, families, child right workers, government organization and anyone having interest in promotion of children rights to parental care and stopping unnecessary child separation in Nepal and beyond.

18. Who can contribute to stop child separation?

Parents, families, extended families, different governmental structure working in promotion of children rights, child right workers, social workers, family scholars and practitioners, human right workers, social activist, International nongovernmental organization, nongovernmental organization, boarding schools, school teachers, researchers, social activist and anyone having interest in children’s right to parental care can contribute to stop child separation.

19. Can I be a part of this campaign?

Yes, you are welcome to this campaign! Engage yourself with us as campaigner and share the website information to your circle. You can also take part in the discussion forum or also initiate discussion. You can provide relevant information to our email info@stopchildseparation.org

20. Who should I contact if I want to contribute?

01 5244956 to
Project coordinator
Preventing Child Separation Project
Email info@stopchildseparation.org.