A New Delhi Declaration renewing governments' commitments to the rights of children and pledging to support each other in the achievement of those rights, was adopted unanimously on 25th October 2013 by Asian and Pacific States attending the Second High Level Meeting on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific. The meeting, hosted by the government of India and supported by UNICEF, was attended by representatives of 32 states from across South and East Asia and the Pacific.
Prior to adopting the Declaration, participants discussed lessons learned and best practices on early childhood development, children in urban environments, and opportunities and issues regarding adolescents. They also focused on ways to enhance South-South cooperation in the interest of the region’s children. The Declaration recognizes that “early childhood development policies and programmes that support the care and education of all children (including children with special needs and orphaned children) are of critical importance to the immediate well-being of children and to their future. Investing in the early years is a key strategy to reduce social inequalities.” It also underlines that investments in early childhood development interventions, which ensure access for all children, with special attention to the most vulnerable, produce significant economic returns for individuals, families, communities, and countries.”
The declaration notes in its recommendations on early childhood development the importance of parental education and prevention from abuse and violence within families and communities.
