Kathmandu, December 4

Nepal is yet to ratify the third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, though it has already ratified the first and second optional protocols.

A child as defined by CRC is every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. As per the convention, every child has the right to get justice for any violence they are subject to, in a country.

If a country fails to address violation of children’s rights, the protocol can be a means for children to get justice .

“The third optional protocol entered into force in 2014, and as of August 2017, 35 countries had ratified it, but Nepal has not paid attention to ratifying the protocol,” said Dilli Guragain, Director of Save the Children.

Nepal has already ratified the Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, among other international conventions.

“Also, Nepal has lost 12 cases related to torture, enforced disappearance and sexual violence during the insurgency,” he informed.

He also said it was necessary for the country to address violation of children’s rights and provide justice to victims and that Nepal should ratify the protocol as soon as possible.