Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), addressed the High-Level Donor and Partner Forum on Reimagining the Future of Children in Asia in Bangkok. The Forum, convened by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and Save the Children, brought together governments, donors, civil society, and private sector partners to advance resilience and opportunity for children across Asia.

In his address, the Secretary General emphasized SAARC's enduring commitment to the protection, wellbeing, and empowerment of children, highlighting the SAARC Social Charter and regional conventions on child welfare and trafficking prevention as guiding frameworks.

The Secretary General noted that children across South Asia are increasingly impacted by climate volatility, prolonged crises, economic shocks, rapid urbanisation, and migration pressures. He emphasized that, "To uphold the aspirations of Vision 2030, it is imperative that we collectively re-envision our systems, strengthen our partnerships, and reaffirm our shared responsibilities."

The Secretary General called for a comprehensive agenda built on four key pillars: Transformative Partnerships, Innovative Financing, Child-Centered Resilience and Innovation to Impact. He highlighted ongoing cooperation with ADPC, including the South Asia Regional Dialogue on Climate Adaptation and Resilience held in Bangkok earlier this year, and noted that SAARC is working to renew its Memorandum of Understanding with ADPC.

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary General reaffirmed SAARC's commitment to working closely with partners to build resilience and ensure that innovation delivers meaningful impact in the lives of children. He urged all stakeholders to advance together with imagination, compassion, and determination, striving to create a future in which every child across Asia can grow up with protection, opportunity, and hope.

SAARC Secretariat
Kathmandu, 4 December 2025