‘Serious violations of child rights occurred during the Gen-Z movement’

Kathmandu, Sept 15: Serious violations of child rights have been observed during the recent Gen-Z movement.

A study conducted by Save the Children and the Children as Zone of Peace National Campaign showed that children and youth have been killed, injured and arbitrarily arrested due to excessive use of force by the security personnel. The report based on the study has been submitted to the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Tap Bahadur Magar.

It shows the need for immediate assistance in areas such as health, psychosocial support, security, legal aid and education. “Peace-building and transformation are needed to prevent child rights violations in the coming days,” the report said. Tara Chhetri, Country Director of Save the Children Nepal, urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure accountability, refrain from excessive use of force, provide mental health services to survivors, and launch an independent investigation into the violence and state repression that occurred during the Gen-Z movement.

The study’s key recommendations include strengthening child-friendly monthly health and psychosocial services to address the trauma and intergenerational impact of state violence, incorporating peacebuilding and conflict transformation approaches to restore trust between children, youth, and state institutions, sensitizing state security agencies and personnel on child rights, and strengthening accountability mechanisms.

Tilottam Poudel, Chair of the Children as Zone of Peace Campaign, said the report including details on deaths and injuries highlights serious violations of Nepal’s commitments under international and national law, as well as the state’s commitment to children’s rights and their protection and promotion.