KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 11
The National Human Rights Commission said a total of 101 complaints related to human rights violation were registered with it in the fiscal 2021- 22.
According to the annual report (2021-22) submitted by the rights body to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, it conducted investigation into 503 complaints (101 new and 202 backlog cases). Of them, investigation into 414 cases were completed with recommendations to the authorities concerned during the fiscal. The report complained that thegovernment had yet to take action against those the human rights watchdog found guilty of different crimes as per the NHRC recommendations.
The NHRC lamented that the implementation status of recommendations made by it to the government was very poor. A total of 15.3 per cent recommendations had been fully implemented followed by 39.2 per cent (partially implemented) and 45.5 per cent (unimplemented). 'Partial implementation' refers to implementing some parts of the recommendation in a case, such as offering relief to the victims but not filing criminal case against the perpetrator.
It also stated that people who suffered during the armed conflict were still deprived of justice notwithstanding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed 14 years ago. The report highlighted that the problems of caste-based discrimination, challenges to right to life, lack of access to health and education, among other indicators, were depriving people of their fundamental rights. The report further stated that labour exploitation of foreign employees and increasing violence against women and children were contributing to degradation of quality of life.
Though right to health, right to employment, right to housing, consumers' right, right to education and children's rights are regarded as fundamental rights by the constitution, all citizens are yet to get easy access to health services, the report warned.
As per the report, the government has not done enough to secure the rights of marginalised people, people of indigenous communities, people with disabilities, Dalits, women, minorities and senior citizens.
The constitutional body has also provided various suggestions to the government to protect and promote the rights situation of the people.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 12, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
