KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 18
The National Human Rights Commission has consulted the Election Commission on how the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly could be held in a more human rights-friendly manner.
According to an NHRC press release, discussion between office-bearers of the rights body and election panel yesterday dwelt on ways to make the elections free, fair and human rights-friendly through effective enforcement of election code of conduct, maintenance of law and order, election monitoring and supervision, voter's education, and easy access of differently-abled persons and senior citizens to polling centres.
They also discussed the access of monitors to election monitoring activities, roles of constitutional bodies, including the NHRC, and media in monitoring.
The NHRC is also set to carry out monitoring of the elections.
Chairperson of NHRC Surya Dhungel stressed the need for coordination between the rights body and election panel during parliamentary and provincial polls to ensure that that they are conducted in a free, fair and fearless environment.
Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the election panel had duly implemented the recommendations made by the NHRC with regard to elections.
"We are aware that the shortcomings and weaknesses pointed out in the previous elections must not be repeated this time." Thapaliya also informed the NHRC about preparations for the overall electoral process.
In the previous election, the rights body had painted a dismal picture of arrangements made by the government, EC, and relevant authorities to ensure maximum and overwhelming participation of voters. As per the pre-poll monitoring conducted by the rights body in the local elections, there had been no arrangement for easy accessibility of helpless, incapacitated, and differently-abled persons to polling centres.
