KATHMANDU, MARCH 21 A total of 350 cases of violations of child rights were reported during and after the House of Representatives (HoR) Elections 2026, according to a study report. The report, prepared by the Children as Zone of Peace National Campaign (CZOP) Nepal, is based on field observations, reports received from provincial networks, media surveillance, and monitoring of digital platforms. It indicates 286 cases of violations of the election code of conduct related to child rights during the election and 19 cases after the election. A four-year-old girl was killed after being hit by a motor vehicle at Mathiyatole in Ishnath Municipality-4, Rautahat. The incident took place on February 5. Likewise, 15-year-old Asha Bhujel and eight-year-old Sushil Majhi were injured in an explosion of suspected object on March 3. The incident occurred in Mithila Municipality-9, Dhanusha. Cases were also registered involving the entry of security forces with arms into schools before the election in Phidim of Panchthar and Annapurna Rural Municipality in Kaski. The study also records incidents where children were used in election publicity campaigns, including carrying party flags and election symbols, participating in mass meetings, chanting political slogans, distributing publicity materials, wearing political uniforms, and taking part in political singing and dancing programs. On social media sites, there were cases of children being used to seek votes for political parties and to show support for specific parties. The involvement of students in rallies while in school uniform, visits by political leaders to schools, and the organization of election-related activities near school areas also violate the election code of conduct relating to child rights. Such activities pose challenges to maintaining schools as child-friendly and politically neutral spaces. National Human Rights Commission's Khimananda Basyal stated that although violations of child rights during this election were relatively lower compared to past elections, significant reform is still needed. It may be noted that the Election Commission fined Rs 25,000 to the Shram Sanskriti Party for violating the election code of conduct concerning the children. Likewise, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, an election candidate from Jajarkot-1, was also fined the same amount. The report also identified the widespread use of school buildings as polling centers as a structural challenge to maintaining schools as politically neutral zones. This time, around 9,450 polling stations out of 10,967 were established in schools. The report echoes the roles of political parties, state bodies, communities, and families in promoting child rights during and after elections. Political parties have been advised not to involve children in election campaigns, rallies, publicity materials, or digital content. All stakeholders have been urged to respect child rights, practice child-friendly electoral processes, avoid organizing election-related activities in schools, and refrain from targeting children. The report has proposed that the Election Commission prepare and implement guidelines prohibiting the use of children in elections through effective monitoring of the code of conduct, promote awareness of child rights in voter education, further strengthen legal provisions, and prevent the political use of children in digital spaces. The campaign has urged security bodies, families, schools, and communities to play their respective roles in promoting child rights and supporting the 'Schools as Zones of Peace' campaign. The study was supported by 107 organizations from 50 districts, all seven province committees, the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, various child-focused networks, and civil society groups. Save the Children, an international non-governmental organization, provided technical support to the study.