HoR Committee directs govt to ensure rights of children at correction homes

Kathmandu: The Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee under the House of Representatives has directed the government to come up with action plans to guarantee the protection and implementation of the rights of children staying at correction homes.

The directive was issued following the discussions with the concerned ministries on a report submitted by the Committee’s inspection and observation sub-committee on the human rights of children.

The respective ministries have been asked to present the action plans which are implementable, practical and results-oriented to the Committee’s next meeting.

The ministries have been advised to incorporate constructive and practical submissions from the Committee members and respective officials in such action plans.

The meeting also directed the concerned ministries to hand over the newly constructed building of the District Coordination Committee, Rupandehi, to the Child Correction Home there, as the existing facility is congested and lacks adequate amenities.

Although it is technically or practically challenging to promptly expand the physical infrastructure and increase the capacity of the Child Correction Homes, it has been reached to a conclusion that it is necessary to make alternative arrangements immediately, bearing in mind the existing pressure and problems in such facilities.

The Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security has been directed to coordinate and collaborate with other relevant stakeholders to make arrangements to accommodate children in such facilities in a humane manner.

The meeting concluded that the daily food and monetary allowance provided to the residents of child correction homes, on par with prisoners, is insufficient to meet their nutritional requirements. Accordingly, the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security and the Ministry of Home Affairs have been directed to ensure their access to nutritious foods as per their age and developmental needs.

Committee President Samiksha Baskota chaired the meeting that was attended by Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, Sita Badi, the Ministry’s secretary, Krishna Bahadur Raut and joint-secretary Chakra Bahadur Budha.

Committee members Ninu Kumari Karna, Kanhaiya Baniya, Mohan Lal Acharya, Saraswoti Lama, Rubina Acharya, Madhu Kumar Chaulagain, Manish Khanal, Manamaya Bishwakarma, Sushma Swarnakar (Dimpal), Khima BK and Sulav Kharel put their views on the various aspects of the child correction facilities.

RSS