The regional inter-governmental South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC)  became a SAARC Apex Body in November 2011. Registered in the Maldives, its Secretariat, headed by its Director-General, is based in Kathmandu, and its activities are implemented in all SAARC countries, SAIEVAC originated in 2005 as the South Asia Forum for Ending Violence Against Children (SAF), an outcome mechanism of the Regional Consultation on the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children, at the meeting organized by the South Asia Coordinating Group on Action Against Violence Against Women and Children (SACG) and hosted by the Government of Pakistan in Islamabad.

In 2010 SAF evolved into SAIEVAC, a regional body comprised of the 8 SAARC countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the purpose to effectively implement measures to end all forms of violence against children in South Asia.

Areas of Action

SAIEVAC has developed a workplan to end violence against children at regional and national level which is a strategic framework to coordinate, standardize, and monitor progress annually. This workplan supports the development of effective and comprehensive child protection systems, and addresses key issues for the region including child labour, sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking, corporal punishment, and child marriage.

The Work plan formulates Strategic Objectives on thirteen different areas, all of which have relevance for child labour and its worst forms: regional cooperation; national strategy; legislative measures; prevention; data collection; professional training and learning; child care standards; reporting; referral mechanisms; recovery, rehabilitation and social re-integration; justice system; education and awareness; and child and civil society participation.

Governance and Coordination

SAIEVAC is governed by the Governing Board, consisting of one appointed government representative from each of the eight SAARC region countries, chair of the South Asia Coordinating Group on Action against Violence against Children (SACG), two child representatives and two national civil society organization representatives on a rotational basis. National coordinators support the process at the national level and participate in SAIEVAC meetings and activities.

SAIEVAC ToR

SAIEVAC Five-year Work Plan

ILO – SAIEVAC Memorandum of Understanding

In August 2012, the ILO and SAIEVAC Regional Secretariat signed a partnership Memorandum of Understanding  to advance the child rights/child labour agenda in South Asia. The objectives of the MOU are pursued through various activities and collaborative action.

In 2013, the ILO and SAIEVAC organised the course UN CRC and ILO Child Labour Conventions: Towards Greater Coherence in Reporting and Action  at the ILO Training Centre in Turin, Italy, with participants from South Asian governments and civil society organizations (download the list of participants).