In the year 2015, Sustainable Development Goals were adopted as Global Goals for action with an anthem  “Leave no one behind”. In 2020, amidst the present times of COVID 19, SDGs are far more relevant than ever before. As world leaders work to deliver on the 2030 promise; now faced with the crisis of a pandemic due to COVID-19, the way forward for SDGs stands blurry and so does the realisation of Child Rights through the implementation of SDGs.

In our endeavour to discuss and create solutions to challenges for ensuring rightful childhood for every child by creating cross -learning platforms, Caritas India (CI) organised its 1^st National Child Rights Webinar on the topic of “Reimagining SDGs for Children amidst COVID -19” on 20^th May, 2020.  Welcoming over 155 participants from various National and International Child Rights Organisations, Fr. Jolly, Asst. Executive Director highlighted the emerging child rights crisis amidst this Pandemic and briefed on the objectives of the Webinar. This Webinar focussed on the Orientation of SDGs, reimagining SDGs for children, emerging challenges for Children, and the Role of Child Leaders in the accomplishment of SDGs.

Fr. Paul Moonjely, Executive Director, Caritas India in his Key Note address raised his concern on how children have become far more vulnerable and invisible amidst COVID-19. “Though children are not the face of the pandemic and thankfully not facing the direct consequences of COVID-19, but they risk being among its biggest victims.”

Mr. Rajesh Upadhyay, Head of the Department (HOD) – Programmes, Caritas India, moderated the Webinar and facilitated discussions to encourage inputs from the representatives of various organisations from all across India on creating collective solutions for rights of children and accomplishment of  SDGs amidst COVID-19.

The First Session on the Topic of Orientation on SDGs and Reimagining SDGs for Children amidst COVID -19 delivered by Ms. Lee Macqueen, Key Resource Person from NCDHR (National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights). Ms. Lee provided her insightful session on SDGs with great examples of programmes and strategies adopted by the various organisation across India in the accomplishment of SDGs. Ms. Macqueen beautifully connected the SDG goals with relevant case studies and several innovations by Child Leaders that made the accomplishment of SDGs possible at several areas. (Presentation). She further highlighted the emerging challenges that children are as the consequences of the Pandemic and further as the pandemic of lockdown making the future of SDGs blurry.

The Second Session was delivered by Ms.Rashi Mitra, Officer – Child Rights, CI  emphasising the Role of Child leaders in the accomplishment of SDGs amidst this Pandemic and later. She focussed on various mediums of expressions and platforms through which Child Leaders can exercise their right to participation for the accomplishment of the SDGs.Amidst the lockdown situation which witnesses emerging crisis of violation of Child Rights flouting the achievement of SDGs especially Goal 8 on eradication of Child Labour , Goal 4 on Access to  Quality Education, Child Leaders can be the key stakeholders in dealing with the preventing violation of Child Rights. (Presentation)

Post these sessions, Mr. Rajesh Upadhyay, HOD – CI facilitated the open house inviting valuable inputs on finding way forward and solutions to reaching out to children amidst COVID and accomplishment of SDGs for ensuring rights of the children.

Esteemed Forum & DSSS Directors and various Child Rights Organisations from several states across India shared the current situation of children and voiced their concerns for children as an aftermath of lockdown. The multitude of issues of growing poverty, hunger, the exodus of migrants has exposed children to increased risk of Child Marriage, Child Labour, school dropouts, violence against children leading to growing  “invisibility” of children. It was echoed that we cannot ensure the rights of children without making them the key stakeholders of their lives. Hence, the role of Child Leaders in the accomplishment of SDGs was re-emphasised upon.

The Webinar culminated with the concluding remarks of Mr.Prabir Basu, Campaign against Child Labour (CACL), State Convenor – WB on reimagining the way forward on SDGs for Children amidst COVID-19. Mr. Prabir highlighted the current crisis of children at various fronts especially intertwined with SDG Goal 8 we fear increasing risks of school dropouts, more children forced into labour & trafficking. He further highlighted the issue of SDG Goal 4 (Quality Education) and how we are clearly witnessing a digital divide creating a huge learning crisis amongst children as classrooms have gone virtual due to closure of schools during the lockdown. He further shared thought-provoking strategies and suggestions for govt. in terms of strengthening the existing Child protection mechanisms and implementation of the laws related to children, acknowledge that child labourers are the worst affected amongst children during the COVID situation as they are mostly stranded alone and exploited by their employers. He further emphasised the need of Govt. to pay attention to the enhancement of allocation of  Early childhood education and secondary education as well as focus more on the out of school children.

The Webinar concluded on a positive note of creating collective synergies to find solutions with increased coordination with government, policymakers, NGOs, CSOs, and most importantly Children themselves and journey together towards the anthem of “Leave no one behind” for children.