Representatives from SAARC countries had met at Colombo last week where they unanimously adopted the South Asia Call for Action on Ending Violence against Children, the ministry statement said.
In the declaration, the SAARC countries have promised to develop and strengthen equitable national and local child protection systems including laws, policies and standards to end all forms of violence.
The declaration also aims to develop and implement laws that safeguard children from potential harm and ban all forms of violence against children in all settings, including home and family, schools and educational settings, care and justice systems, work settings and the community, the ministry said.
The declaration also aims to consolidate and validate a national system for disaggregated data collection, analysis , dissemination, and a systematic research agenda to inform policy development and resource mobilisation to protect children, the ministry said.
The SAARC countries have also agreed to cooperate in addressing cross-border issues, such as trafficking, missing children, HIV and AIDS, drug abuse and repatriation of children.
