Kathmandu-The South Asia Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) concluded its two-day regional forum in Sri Lanka, bringing together regional ministers, senior government officials, and global experts to establish a united front against childhood exploitation and abuse.

Jointly convened by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), the conference focused heavily on elevating regional child protection systems, promoting positive parenting initiatives, and expanding online child safety regulations.

Inaugurating the landmark event as the Chief Guest, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that child safeguarding is a fundamental national priority that must be embedded deeply within South Asia’s broader socioeconomic development, governance, and social justice frameworks.

Throughout the summit, member states delivered critical updates on their localized strategies. Representatives from Pakistan detailed the expansion of their child protection services alongside a newly designed National Strategic Action Plan. Simultaneously, delegates from Bangladesh and the Maldives solidified their international accountability by formally pledging to the Bogotá Call to Action, marking a significant milestone for regional policy implementation.

Addressing the assembly on behalf of the WHO, Dr. Momoe Takeuchi stated firmly that violence against children is entirely preventable rather than inevitable, urging participating nations to scale up the global INSPIRE framework.

To secure measurable progress, the delegation jointly called for a substantial increase in financial investments targeted at family support networks. They also emphasized the critical need for modernized data tracking systems across South Asia to effectively monitor and eliminate exploitation before the upcoming Second Global Ministerial Conference.