POKHARA, FEBRUARY 17

Speakers at a programme in Pokhara have expressed concern about non-implementation of the constitutional system, which they argued, resulted in the increasing number of human rights violations.

The speakers at a discussion and orientation programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission today, urged the stakeholders concerned to ensure effective implementation of laws. 'For this to happen, better coordination among the three tiers of government is imperative,' they added.

NHRC member Manoj Dawadi said the NHRC was working responsibly to ensure human rights for every citizen. The issues of citizenship are different in hilly and Tarai areas. 'As the citizenship act is pending in the Parliament for quite long, many people have been deprived of the right to citizenship,' he argued.

Coordinator at INSEC Province Office, Gandaki, Shiva Khakurel said his office record showed that 125 women and 54 children were victims of human rights violation in the past six months in the province. Among the violence against children, 39 are rape victims, six victims of sexual harassment, seven of corporal punishment, one of child marriage, and one infanticide.

Similarly, among the violence perpetrated against women, six are rape victims, six are victims of rape attempt, and one each of sexual harassment, polygamy, and human trafficking, while domestic violence was recorded against 99.

Khakurel further informed that deprivation of rights of women and children, senior citizens and sexual minorities was prevalent.

Other problems plaguing society are caste discrimination and family splits caused by foreign employment, among others.

Spokesperson at Pokhara sub-metropolis and chairperson of Ward 5 Dhan Bahadur Nepali said the sub-metropolis had formulated 124 laws and vowed to form coordination committee to ensure justice for victims and punishment for perpetrators.

Other speakers urged the local levels to play an active role in curbing crime and violence against women and children.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 18, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.