By Sr. Neticia Pereira, Director of Opportunity Village Nepal (Province of Central East India Nepal)

As part of the Children’s Initiatives for Rights and Growth (CHIRAG) Project* implemented in Nepal and India, a four-day multi-country training entitled ‘Child Participation and Child Protection: Child Parliament and Engagement in UN Reporting Mechanisms’ was carried out from April 24 – 30, 2026, to offer opportunities to share learning, reflections, and exchange experiences.

Bringing together project teams from India and Nepal, the training served as a valuable platform to strengthen common understanding of the topics discussed and international advocacy mechanisms, while fostering cross-country collaboration among project staff.

The first two days of the training were facilitated by Mr. Francis Thambi from India and focused on strengthening conceptual understanding of child rights, child participation, child parliament, and child protection.

The sessions began with discussions on the four pillars of child rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), helping participants build a common understanding of the rights and protection of children. Discussions further explored meaningful child participation and international legal instruments related to children’s participation.

A major focus of the training was on child parliament systems, where participants discussed their concepts, principles, objectives, formation processes, constitutions, and functioning within community settings. The sessions also covered the various ministries and structures within child parliaments, as well as the documents and registers maintained during their operation.

As child parliaments are implemented within project sites in India, the India team shared their practical experiences and showcased activities carried out in their communities. The exchange created a valuable opportunity for participants from both countries to learn from each other’s approaches and practices.

The training also extensively covered child protection, including conceptual clarity, international legal frameworks, and protection-related interventions on the child protection issues faced in their respective working areas, and collectively discussed possible responses and approaches.

Building Knowledge on UN Mechanisms and Advocacy Processes

The final two days of the training were facilitated by Mr. Santosh Maharjan from Nepal and focused on international advocacy and United Nations reporting mechanisms related to Child Rights.

Participants were introduced to the structures and functions of the United Nations and gained an understanding of different international reporting and advocacy mechanisms. Discussions focused on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) reporting mechanism, including reporting procedures, timelines, participation in pre-sessions, and the ways civil society organizations can engage in advocacy. Country Representative of GSIF Nepal, Sr. Precilla Noronha, shared her experiences of her participation in the 61^° Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The sessions further explored the Examen Periódico Universal (UPR) mechanism, where participants learned about reporting procedures, engagement strategies, and opportunities for advocacy within the UN system. As the Nepal Team has recently participated in the UPR shadow reporting process, they shared their experiences, learning, and reflections from the engagement. The India team also expressed keen interest in strengthening future engagement in the upcoming UPR cycle.

Participants also received guidance on the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), including discussions on both formal and informal advocacy spaces and methods for raising child rights concerns at the national and international levels.

The training concluded with Mr. Govinda Bhattarai sharing on project goals, outcomes, activities, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and interactive results from project sites. As a multi-country initiative under the project, the training strengthened participants’ shared understanding and encouraged collaboration and learning across borders.

Concluding the training session, Sr. Kala Hermanajilt thanked the teams from India and Nepal for their enthusiasm and active participation. Sr. Pushpa Louis, Province Leader of Central East India Nepal, congratulated the participants on their learning and urged them to strengthen a culture of sharing experiences and to enhance collaboration for the betterment of girls and women.

The four-day training provided an important opportunity to deepen participants’ knowledge, strengthen advocacy skills, and reinforce collaborative efforts to promote and protect the rights of children across Nepal and India.

*With the support of Misean Cara, the CHIRAG project envisions a safe environment for children and young women through enhanced participation and protection in communities in India & Nepal.

Learn more about Opportunity Village Nepal aquí.