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Dear Friends, Partners, and Advocates for Child Rights,
It is with great pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I share this message on behalf of Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP) – National Campaign. Since our inception in 2001, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to protect and promote the rights of children during and after armed conflicts in Nepal. From a small, informal coalition, CZOP has grown into a robust national campaign with 98 member organizations dedicated to ensuring that children are safe, protected, and respected in all settings.
Our founding vision was clear: children must never be instruments of conflict. Instead, they should be safeguarded as zones of peace. Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to advocate against the involvement of children in political movements—armed or unarmed—and to ensure that children affected by conflict or emergencies receive timely support and care. This principle has guided every action, partnership, and policy intervention we have undertaken.
Following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2006, CZOP expanded its scope, focusing deeply on child protection, recognizing the rampant abuse, exploitation, and violence still faced by children across the country. In response to these challenges, we strengthened our coalition, institutionalized our efforts, and officially registered as a national organization, enabling us to act with greater impact and accountability.
One of our proudest achievements has been the successful advocacy that led to the Government of Nepal adopting the Schools as Zones of Peace Guideline in 2011—a landmark policy that reinforces our collective responsibility to ensure that education spaces remain safe, conflict-free, and nurturing. Furthermore, our advocacy contributed to critical legislative changes, including the recognition of using children in political protests as a criminal offense under the Children Act 2075.
CZOP’s work is grounded in strong collaboration. Our partnerships with the National Human Rights Commission, UNICEF, various international NGOs, and government bodies—such as the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST)—have been instrumental in driving forward key national agendas. We continue to champion issues like having a children focus thematic report by the Census department, amendment of ending Child marriage strategy 2072
Today, CZOP stands not just as a campaign, but as a powerful movement that believes in a future where every child is free from violence, exploitation, and harm. As we look ahead, we remain committed to our core themes: policy advocacy, child protection, child rights governance, institutional strengthening, and, above all, the promotion of children and schools as enduring zones of peace.
Let us continue this journey together, ensuring that the voices and rights of children remain central to Nepal’s path toward sustainable peace and development.
With gratitude and hope,
Meena Sharma
President
Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP) – National Campaign
“Collective Campaign and Solidarity for Children as Zone of Peace & Child Rights System Our Priority”
बालबालिका शान्ति क्षेत्रका लागि साझा अभियान र एकबद्ध्ता, बालअधिकार प्रणाली हाम्रो प्राथमिकता
The mission statement reflects to advocate for the integration of peace and children’s rights into public policy frameworks, while ensuring accountability and safeguarding the well-being of children in all aspects of society. Moreover, CZOP committed for holding all stakeholders accountable for the well-being and safety of children, ensuring that their rights are protected and upheld across various sectors. CZOP strives to drive systemic and transformative change, working towards inclusive policies that prioritize children’s rights and contribute to peaceful and nurturing environments for all children.
Peace and children’s rights are the foundation of public policy, our concern for everyone’s accountability
शान्ति र बालअधिकार सार्वजनिक नीतिको आधार, सबैको जवाफदेही हाम्रो सरोकार
The vision of CZOP “peace and children’s rights are the foundation of public policy, our concern for everyone’s accountability” is to create a peaceful environment for all children in all circumstances while dealing in emergency, armed conflicts and other normal situations. Their dream is to protect and promote the rights of all children, free from discrimination, abuse, and exploitation. To achieve this vision, CZOP is advocating for policy changes, providing technical support to local governments, civil society organizations, and partnering with various stakeholders. They also promote the concept of children as zones of peace and work towards establishing schools as zones of peace to ensure the safety and well-being of children in all settings.
A Nepal where every child enjoys their fundamental rights and lives in peace.
The idea of “Children as Zones of Peace” was first introduced by Niel Thedin from Sweden in 1983. In 1996, Grasha Massel emphasized the importance of recognizing children as zones of peace in the United Nations, marking the first official mention of the concept. Since 2001, Sri Lanka has implemented this concept, incorporating it into their practices and initiatives. During Nepal’s armed conflict, the rights of children were severely impacted as schools were used as parade grounds or shelters by both the Nepal Army and the Maoist Peoples Liberation Army. Many children were forced to become child soldiers, and others lost their lives in crossfire or mine/bomb blasts.
The concept of ‘School is a Peace Zone’ originated in Nepal through the efforts of Save the Children Norway-Nepal in 2001. Subsequently, in 2002, various organizations focused on children launched an advocacy campaign under the slogan ‘Children are Zones of Peace.’ In early 2003, a tragic incident occurred at Sharada Secondary School in Mudbara, Doti, where four children lost their lives in a crossfire between Maoist insurgents and the Nepal Army. This event further emphasized the importance of creating safe spaces for children. To consolidate these efforts and initiatives, the Coordination Committee for Children in Conflict was established in early 2003, under the coordination of the Central Child Welfare Committee. To strengthen and advance the campaign, the ‘Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP)-National Campaign’ was officially launched in Nepal on August 20, 2003 (3, Bhadra 2060), through the collaborative efforts of civil society organizations (CSOs). These efforts aimed to prevent further tragic incidents and ensure the protection and well-being of children during times of conflict.