Saarc ministerial meet begins today

In a bid to end violence against children, the third Saarc ministerial level meeting is beginning in Kathmandu today (Wednesday), official sources said.
Ministers and senior government officials of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are taking part in the meeting.
Nepalese Prime Minister of Madhav Kumar Nepal is scheduled to inaugurate the meet to be held at Soltee Crown Plaza in Kathmandu.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare of Nepal is hosting the Secretariat of the South Asian Forum for Ending Violence against Children.
The meeting will discuss the issue of integrating South Asian Forum (SAF) with the secretariat or establishing a separate secretariat.
The SAF set up in 2005 as an outcome of the Regional Consultation on the UN Study on Violence against Children held in Islamabad works on trafficking, early marriage, sexual abuse and exploitation and child protection.
It is supported by the South Asian Coordinating Group for Ending Violence against Women and Children, a group of regional UN Agencies and International NGOs.