The Ashok Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the website for the Second High Level Meeting (HLM) on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific. The High Level Meeting will be hosted by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, and will be held from 23rd to 25th October 2013 in New Delhi. The journey of Meeting (HLM) on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific began in 2010 as an initiative to intensify cooperation at the ministerial level on child rights among countries in Asia and the Pacific. The first HLM was hosted by Government of China and brought together more than 100 delegates from 28 countries in Asia and the Pacific, UN agencies and international organizations to discuss and share the progress, experience, problems and challenges in the survival, protection and development of the nearly 1.2 billion children in the region.

Moving a step forward from the First HLM on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights, Government of India is proud to host the second level of discussions on the issue of child rights in the region. Through the Second HLM we hope to- Assess the progress and advancement of children’s rights, Support governments and other national partners to include promotion of child rights and encourage development of networks for knowledge exchange, promote peer learning and coordination for cooperation on child rights in the region.

I hope that countries will engage in prolific discussions on the three themes- Adolescents: current rights for future opportunities (Policies, Programmes and Laws to tackle adolescent issues), Fulfilling child rights with early childhood development and Urban settings as an opportunity for realizing all child rights, identified this year keeping in mind the opportunities and challenges of child rights in Asia and the Pacific.

I welcome all the delegates to India and to the Second HLM on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific, and I hope that we successfully continue in our endeavour to promise a safe and protected environment for our children, and to allow them to reach their full potential and to enjoy all of their rights.

Mrs. Krishna Tirath
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India