NHRC asks govt to effectively implement laws against caste discrimination

Kathmandu: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to effectively implement the laws to address serious human rights violations such as ethnic discrimination and untouchability.

‘We call on all three tiers of government, political parties, civil society, all religious organisations, human rights activists, and citizens to fully implement the recommendations of the Commission and adopt impactful steps to end untouchability and racial discrimination in practice’, NHRC said.

In a press statement issued by the Commission’s Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the Declaration of an Untouchability-free Nation and the Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Untouchability, the NHRC has reminded the governments to take legal action without providing political protection to those involved in caste discriminations.

‘Caste discrimination and untouchability are still the blights because the constitution and laws have not been enforced honestly.’

According to NHRC, the incident of an inter-caste marriage in Saptari could have been taken to the judicial process, but it was not done so, resulting in the girl’s commission of suicide. Rather, she was forced to mediation to settle the case.

The Constitution of Nepal ensures the right to live with dignity, the right to equality, the right of crime victims, the right against untouchability and racial discrimination, the right of Dalits, and the right to social justice.

Nepal is a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial and Social Discrimination.

RSS