SAARC in collaboration with UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO) and Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, held the first Online Ministerial Information Sharing Meeting “Elevating the Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) Agenda in South Asia”, today, on 23 June 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

With millions of children worldwide affected by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse each year, the time for urgent, coordinated action is required. SAARC, mandated by the SAARC Social Charter, is dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation among its Member States. The Conventions on Regional Arrangements for the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia and Convention Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution are important regional instruments agreed by Member States.

In the Statement delivered on behalf of the Secretary General of SAARC, Md. Golam Sarwar, SAARC reaffirmed its shared commitment to ending all forms of violence against children. The Statement highlighted the need to strengthen coordination among institutions, civil society, and development partners to ensure a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to child protection. 

The Meeting was attended by officials and representatives of Member States, including Dr Aishath Shiham, Minister of Social and Family Development of Maldives and Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health of Maldives. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Najat Maalla M'jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.

SAARC Secretariat

Kathmandu

23 June 2025

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) team proudly emerged as runners-up in the inaugural Diplomatic Futsal Tournament, held on 29 May and 01 June 2025 in Kathmandu.

The tournament was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal in Kathmandu with participation of 13 teams from Embassies of Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, SAARC, UAE, USA as well as from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, with a view to fostering friendship and mutual understanding through sports, and to bring to diplomatic missions and international organizations in a spirited celebration of sportsmanship and unity.

The SAARC team delivered an inspiring and determined performance throughout the competition, showcasing exceptional teamwork, resilience, and sporting spirit. Advancing through intense matches, the team demonstrated the values of unity and regional cooperation, that lie at the heart of SAARC’s mission and its vision of people-to-people contact.

This strong finish is a testament to the dedication and camaraderie of the players and support staff who represented the organization with pride and integrity on and off the field. The final match was played between SAARC and U.S. Embassy futsal teams, which ended in a thrilling 4-4 tie and went down to a penalty shootout. Mr. Abdulla Najeeb from the SAARC Futsal Team was selected as the Best Player of the Tournament.

SAARC extends its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal for hosting this meaningful initiative and congratulates those who contributed to success of this tournament. SAARC also extend appreciation to all participating teams for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship. The final and award ceremony was graced by the distinguished presence of H.E. Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal, and H.E. Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, who attended as the Guest of Honor.

The event was also attended by diplomats and officials from the esteemed Embassies in Kathmandu, supporters, futsal fans and families. SAARC Secretariat Kathmandu 01 June 2025

The 60th Session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) commenced today at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal. The three-day meeting, held from 28 to 30 April 2025, brings together distinguished delegates from the Member States, Heads of SAARC Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres, as well as senior officials from the Secretariat.

2. The SAARC Programming Committee meeting is being held under the Chairmanship of Nepal and is attended by the National Focal Points of the SAARC member states at the level of Joint Secretary/ Director General of the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
3. The Session was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal and Chair of the SAARC Standing Committee. In his inaugural address, Foreign Secretary Mr. Rai emphasized the urgent need to revitalize SAARC mechanisms and deepen regional cooperation, reaffirming Nepal’s steadfast commitment to the SAARC Charter and its objectives. He underlined the importance of convening the Nineteenth SAARC Summit and other core mechanisms to restore momentum in regional process.
4. In his welcome remarks, H.E. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, thanked the Chair, the Government of Nepal, and the Member States for their steadfast support. He underlined the vital role of the Programming Committee as an "Engine Room" for SAARC process and called for renewed efforts to address emerging regional and global challenges through integrated actions. Stressing the need to revitalize the SAARC, he urged Member States to engage constructively to restore high-level engagements leading to the SAARC Summit.
5. The Secretary General inspired SAARC delegates to approach the Session with steadfast ambition and, reminding them that regional cooperation is not just about dialogue, but about co-creating a better and sustainable future for the peoples of South Asia.
6. During the Session, the Committee is deliberating on a wide range of important issues, including reviewing the status of implementation of previous decisions, considering and approving budgets and programmes for the SAARC Secretariat, Specialized Bodies, and Regional Centres for 2025, examining reports from key SAARC entities, and assessing progress in areas such as food security, economic cooperation, trade, energy, climate change, health, education, poverty alleviation, and social development. The Committee is also addressing matters related to the convening of future SAARC meetings and endorsing the SAARC Calendar of Activities for 2025.
7. The 60th Session of the Programming Committee will conclude on 30 April 2025. 

SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, 28 April 2025

H.E. Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC underscores urgent Integrated Action for Sustainable Development with a Focus on South Asia and Regional Cooperation

During the plenary session of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2025, His Excellency the Secretary General delivered an impactful address, emphasizing the critical imperative of integrated action to accelerate Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) achievement, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities within South Asia. Recognizing that the South Asian region is currently off track to meet most of the SDGs and has even witnessed regression in key areas, the Secretary General stressed the urgent need for a coordinated and holistic approach that acknowledges the deep interconnections between the SDGs and the specific vulnerabilities of the region to climate change. He underlined necessity of strong regional cooperation and integrated strategies to build resilience and foster sustainable socio-economic development.

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is the annual flagship multi-stakeholder event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi. The twenty fourth edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) was held in New Delhi under the theme ‘Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions’ from 5th to 7th March 2025.

The Secretary General highlighted the crucial role of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and its initiatives in addressing the challenges of achieving SDGs. The address emphasized the need for South Asian member states to review and ensure the timely implementation of existing regional action plans on climate change, promote the use of green technology, invest in low-carbon research and development, and integrate climate change action plans in the policy formulations.

Furthermore, the Secretary General underscored the importance of strengthening regional cooperation for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and referred to contributions of the SAARC Agriculture Center, SAARC Energy Center, South Asian University and SAARC Disaster Management Center, in capacity building and awareness generation among Member States of SAARC. The call to action strongly resonated with participants, reinforcing that concerted, integrated regional efforts, leveraging existing SAARC mechanisms, are essential to place South Asia back on a trajectory towards achieving the SDGs and building a climate-resilient future.