Kathmandu, March 29

The National Human Rights Commission today said its attention had been drawn to the protest staged by persons with disabilities in Jorpati, Kathmandu, yesterday against the government’s failure to ensure disabled-friendly infrastructure for them.

Over 60 agitating persons with disabilities had demolished a section of sidewalk in Jorpati, demanding that the government don’t discriminate against them.

A press statement issued by the rights body reminded that it was the duty of the state to protect human rights of persons with disabilities.

“The NHRC has, from time to time, drawn the attention of the Government of Nepal and stakeholders regarding protection of rights and interest of persons with disabilities as all cities, including Kathmandu valley, lack disabled-friendly roads and sidewalks,” it said.

According to Article 42 (3) of the constitution, people with physical impairment shall have the right to a dignified way of life and equal access to social services and facilities, along with their diversity identity. Similarly, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017 has stipulated a provision of accessible physical infrastructures for the disabled.

Accessible Physical Structure and Communication Service Directive for Persons with Disabilities-2013 also has a provision for arrangement of appropriate ramp, door, window, tactile block and Braille in public physical structures like government offices, schools, universities, hospitals, health care facilities, religious spaces, workplace, public road, sidewalk, passenger waiting place, parking lanes, recreational places, playground, conference hall, cinema hall and business complexes, residential buildings, hotel and restaurant, ATM services in a manner that they are accessible to persons with disabilities.

“Even the fourth Human Rights Act Plan of the government states that disabled-friendly roads will be constructed. As Nepal is a party to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006, it is highly necessary for the government to construct disabled-friendly roads and public buildings to ensure their rights to movement,” the NHRC said.

Meanwhile, the rights body has urged the government to implement the recommendations made earlier by the NHRC regarding accessible public infrastructure for persons with disabilities.