Kathmandu, Nov 02: The Saarc inter-governmental
expert group today finalised the draft of Saarc Social Charter
to be presented at the council of ministers' meeting for
endorsement during 12th summit of the regional grouping to be
held in Islamabad in January next year.
Senior government officers of the seven member
countries of Saarc including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the
meeting which concluded today, Foreign Ministry sources said.
The Saarc Social Charter includes matters relating to
population management, poverty alleviation, youth mobilization
and development of human resources in the region.
During the meeting, experts of the seven nations
discussed issues relating to women's empowerment, child
welfare, education, health and poverty reduction in the
region.
The meeting also directed all the governments of the
Saarc member states to include the social charter in their
action plans for the upliftment of women, youth and children
of the region.
Presiding over the two-day meeting Joint Secretary in
the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare Shyam Sundar Shrestha
hoped that the endorsement of the Saarc Social Charter will
add a new dimension in social mobilization and social security
in the region.
Bureau Report
