The post Nepal Ministers Pledge to End Anti-Social Practices appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>The Nepali Ministers have made collective commitments to put an end to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), child labor, child/early marriage, human trafficking and smuggling, among many others.
The pledge was expressed in a ‘Letter of Commitment’ (LoC) issued in Kathmandu, following the discussions held by the stakeholders on September 17, 2018.
Contents of the LoC
The Letter of Commitment encompasses the following:
- Rescue, rehabilitation and safety of survivors and victims of GBV and human-trafficking
- Establishment and operation of Arogya Ashram (sanatorium) for helpless and physically-challenged and aged people
- Rehabilitation of disabled through collaborative programs organized by the center and province
- Monitoring and regulation of government and non-government child homes
- Rescue, rehabilitation, socialization and family reunion for street children
- As a special initiative, the MoWCS has taken up a special initiative of fulfilling these responsibilities in line with the International Treaty and Commitment and compiling a report regarding women, children, persons with disabilities and senior citizens
Provincial Ministers Involvement
Besides extending their support to the organization of government programs, the provincial ministers have also pledged mobilization of the following:
- Rehabilitation fund
- GBV-prevention fund
- Single-women security fund
- Emergency child rescue fund
- Disabled rehabilitation fund
- Senior citizen fund
Speaking at the occasion, Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen Under-Secretary, Binita Bhattarai said, “An understanding has been reached by all three-level government to play effective roles, to make activities of center and provinces effective and systematic by holding the mutual discussion regarding role and coordination among all three levels.”
The LoC was signed by MoWCS Minister Thamamaya Thapa and all provinces representatives.
The country is witness to some revolutionary developmental changes in the recent past like the recent introduction of the civil laws. Let’s see how this added commitment will fill the remaining gaps in Nepal’s development success story.
Also Read:
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]]>The post Nepal Passes All Fundamental Rights Laws, Meets Deadlines appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>As the reports say, the two Houses of Federal Parliament have formally given their nod to 16 bills required to guarantee the constitution-defined fundamental rights, through suspension of the rules.
With this, the government has met the constitutional deadline on September 17, 2018, a day before the period set for passing pending bills i.e. September 18, 2018.
In order to meet the September 18, 2018 deadline, the time required to register amendments has also been cut down to 12 hours from the actual period of 72 hours, for timely authentication of the bills from the President.
The move followed three different meetings held at the National Assembly on September 16, 2018, to forward the bills to the Parliament, following which the House of Representatives endorsed all in a single meeting.
Nine of the endorsed bills were freshly-drafted, while seven of them underwent amendments to necessary provisions in the existing laws in line with the citizens’ fundamental rights.
Some of the Key Fundamental Rights Bills Endorsed Recently Include:
- Bill on Individual Privacy
- Bill on Public Security
- Racial Discrimination and Untouchability (offense and punishment, first amendment) Bill
- Bill related to Social Security
- Bill on Compulsory and Free Education
- Right to Food
- Bill on Right to Residence
- Land Bill
- Protection of the Victims of Crime and Rights of Children
- Environment Conservation and Rights of Disabled People
- Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights
- Public Health Bill
- Bill on Employment Rights
- Bill on Consumer Rights
Further, these laws will undergo authentication by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on September 18, 2018, after the Federal Parliament present the same to the Presidential Office by end of the day.
Also Read:
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]]>The post Nepal Reviews ‘Right to Privacy’ for Public Transparency appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>The State Affairs & Good Governance Committee of Nepal Parliament agreed to make amendments to the ‘Bill on Right to Privacy’ allowing public officials to disclose their property and related details issued by legal entities.
The government body took this decision unanimously to ask the public officials to disclose their records to public, informed the Sudarshan Khadka, Secretary at the Committee.
The latest move comes as a response to the widespread criticism over provisions in the Bill, which currently allows civil servants and government officials to keep their property & academic details secret and also has restrictions on taking photographs of public officials and events without approval.
However, the amendments to the Bill demand revisions in the two existing key laws i.e., Corruption Prevention Act and the Judicial Council Act.
Despite willingness of the Cabinet Ministers since 1990s, the Corruption Prevention Act has been safeguarding public officials from submitting their details.
Whereas, the Judicial Council Act allows disclosure only to the Judicial Council and not to anyone else.
Former minister Sher Bahadur Tamang had also proposed amendments to these two laws in line with the latest decision saying that would boost ‘transparency’ in the system.
Based on the current discussions, the Committee Secretariat will now prepare a new report based on the new amendments and will submit the same to the committee for further discussion.
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]]>The post Newly Introduced Criminal Code: Hope for Acid Attack Survivors appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>With a lot of buzz around the newly introduced criminal code on August 17, 2018, the law concerning acid attacks comes as a huge relief.
The new law specifies that the culprits are sentenced to five to eight years of jail and have to pay a hefty fine ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000.
Burn victims will also be entitled to treatment costs according to the new law.
Magar’s case also led the Nepal Supreme Court to order that the distribution of acid be regulated which until now is freely available at stores for agricultural and manufacturing usage.
Sital Kalantry, a human rights researcher and professor says that more attacks are found around locations that use a lot of acid in the industry and where guns aren’t easily available.
Case at Hand:
Left mercilessly at the receiving end of brutality, Rihanna Dhapali and Sangita Magar’s stories are nothing less than a nightmare for life.
Dhapali, a victim of domestic violence was devastated after she lost her child and suffered life-long injuries after her husband and mother-in-law burned her.
Magar became a victim of rivalry between two men that led her to the state she is in now.
Both their cases paved way for the law that will now effectively work to reduce such crimes.
Statistics:
- According to Burn Violence Survivors (BVS-Nepal), a Kathmandu-based NGO that helps acid and burn survivors, over a period of eight years, 40 acid attacks cases were recorded in Nepal
- London-based Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) states that about 1,500 attacks are globally recorded each year while nearly 60 percent of global cases are not reported
- ASTI Executive Director Jaf Shah estimates 1,000 attacks annually in India, despite reports indicating only 300 per year
- London Police reports obtained by CNN indicate a 600 percent increase in attacks; 77 attacks in 2012 to 465 in 2017
- Most acid attacks have been found in Bangladesh, India and Cambodia were perpetrators had a personal relationship with the victims
- Kalantry and most researchers identify gender-based discrimination as a primary reason for such attacks
“The underlying problem is the fundamental devaluation of women and girls,” says Jessica Neuwirth, Director, Donor Direct Action, an international women’s rights organization that supported Sangita Magar’s legal team in getting justice.
Before the introduction of the new law, a perpetrator in Nepal would be subject to an imprisonment of two months or a fine of about USD 10.
Fast-forward to today, the new laws are more stringent and have a slim chance of escape for criminals.
Also Read:
- New Law to Check Transparency in NGO Activities
- Nepal Criminal Code Draws Criticism, ‘Press Freedom’ Plays Vital
- Nepal Criminal Code Sought for Fight Against Rape Victims
- Nepal Criminal Code 2018: IFJ Serious, Calls ‘Criminalizing Press Freedom’
- Nepal Civil Code and Criminal Code Acts to Ensure Justice
- Nepal Criminal Code 2018 Brings ‘Anti-Pollution’ Measures
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]]>The post Human Trafficking in Nepal – Relentless Fight for Rights Continues! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>Even then, it’s tough to say we are on path of development, considering the illicit activities such as exploitation of #humanrights & freedom, #SocialInequality and #ChildLabor, among others.
One such demotivating aspect that makes us rethink of development is #HumanTrafficking, the menace that has been deciding the fate of many innocents, globally.
Standing next to drug trafficking and arms dealing, human trafficking remains to be a battle and a growing criminal activity for many nations despite strict policy-level decisions, and Nepal is no exception! In fact, more prone to girl and #womentrafficking in particular.
Relentless efforts by government, social activists and media over the years literally went in vain in tackling #HumanTraffickingInNepal.
“First you have to learn to take them as your own child. Then you will feel the sorrow and then the strength comes out from you to protect them” – Says Anuradha Koirala
Let’s take a closer look at human trafficking scenario in Nepal!
A Glance
Nepal is one of the key source countries globally known for forced labor and sex trafficking involving men, women and children. Human trafficking in Nepal’s case can be observed in three different ways:
1) Within the Country: Human trafficking within Nepal typically involves #traffickingpeople from rural to urban locations. Especially, the young girls and women trafficked from rural areas are subjected to #sexualexploitation across enjoyment spots such as pubs, hotels, and other places falling under the ambit of tourism centers. While some of these women voluntarily take up the act, many of them were literally forced into the act and end up as slaves after a period, either #bondedlabor or as workers across low-profile jobs in factories etc.
2) Across the Indo-Nepal Border: Girl and women trafficking across the Indo-Nepal border is one most-heard aspect. Over the years, many girls have reportedly been trafficked to various India’s urban areas and used for sexual exploitation across brothel houses and child labor across unorganized and informal sectors. Surprisingly, records show the presence of more than 1 lakh trafficked #Nepaliwomen across India’s urban locations.
3) Beyond Borders: Besides the closest borders like India, #NepaliVictims have also reportedly been trafficked to various other destinations such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and some Middle East countries. India has reportedly been a transit for trafficking of Nepali women to regions such as Western Asia and Middle East, among others. Nepali victims to non-Indian destinations are most likely subjected to sexual exploitation, in particular to non-brothels.
Here are some shocking facts you should know about human trafficking in Nepal’s case:
- Each year, around 1-2 lakh Nepali women or girls are trafficked to Indian brothels at an average selling price of INR 50,000-70,000
- Trafficked Nepali girls or women are majorly exploited for their beauty (fair and lighter skin tone) and virgins among them are often believed to have ability to cure #AIDS
- #Poverty, #illiteracy and less earning power are among key reasons subjecting Nepali women to trafficking
- #Slavery remains to be the oldest forms of #ForcedLabor in case of Nepal, with bonded labor dominating the scenario across agriculture brick kilns, among other industries
- Child labor is another aspect of human trafficking that Nepal is known for. The country is home to 1.6 million children (between 5-17 years) subjected to different forms of child labor, some of them often working in exchange of money
- Three-fourth of children engaged in child labor in Nepal are below 14 years with majority of them being girls
- According to #NepalHumanDevelopmentReport 2004, nearly 20 percent of Nepalis trafficked to Asian countries fall are below 16 years of age
- Trafficking victims of Nepal basically hail from traditionally disadvantaged and #marginalizedgroups
- Promises of better jobs across foreign destinations remains to be one of the key reasons driving human trafficking from Nepal
- According to Nepal’s Ministry for Women & Social Welfare, 26 of Nepal’s 75 districts are prone to trafficking menace
- Peak trafficking is usually observed between June and late August or early September, reports an #IndianArmedForces survey
- According to #UNICEF, an estimated 11,000-13,000 girls and women are working in the “night entertainment industry” in Kathmandu Valley alone
- According to #UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2012, human trafficking from Nepal during 2007-2009 involved 36 percent were children (33 percent girls and 3 percent boys) and 64% adults (women 53 percent and men 11 percent)
- Sashastra Seema Bal, one of the Indian Armed Police Forces, in its report on ‘Human Trafficking on Indo-Nepal border’ reported a surprising 500 percent rise in number of humans trafficked from Nepal to India over the last five years period since 2013, with majority of them from rural and Terai regions of Nepal
List not exhaustive! There are many such facts about human trafficking in Nepal that can touch your emotions.
Governmental Efforts
Nepal Government has taken several initiatives over the years to tackle the menace.
According to UNICEF, Nepal already agrees to various international legal frameworks to protect its women and children from the human trafficking menace, which include:
- #UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
- #ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor
- ILO Forced Labor Convention to Combat Trafficking and Forced labor
- CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
- UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
- #SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution
“Accept What’S Done To Their Children, If You Don’t Mind It Being Done To Yours – Children Trafficking”
The country also has in place a domestic legal framework including:
- Human Trafficking & Transportation Control Act (HTTCA)
- Human Trafficking & Transportation (Control) Regulation
“Human Trafficking Is Modern Day Slavery”
Besides, Nepal also has many agencies working for it such as:
- Secretariat to combat trafficking under the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Women and Children Offices operating across 75 districts
- District Committees on anti-trafficking across all 75 districts & local committees
- Nepal Police, Court, Attorney General’s Office and Embassy offices across other countries
- Nepal Government has ramped up its anti-trafficking efforts post the 2015 earthquake; stopped inter-country adoption and also established various measures such as conducting awareness programs across communities, enhancement of local communities and funding various rehabilitation centers
- UNICEF has also extended its support to governmental efforts by strengthening various police stations and checkpoints around the country covering the border areas
- The Department of Immigration has also been training the country’s immigration officials on ways to tackle trafficking of labor from the country
- Government has launched various national and local level campaigns using mass media
- Local Governments are also given various directives to tackle trafficking; for example, children cannot be moved across districts without legal documents or guardian
- Government has also been conducting frequent meetings with the related stakeholders including NGOs, agencies, among others
There are many other measures that the government has been adopting to fight the human trafficking menace.
Hope, such continuous efforts involving stringent government regulations, effective public participation and relentless measures by NGOs & related stakeholders will help Nepal fight the human trafficking menace completely.
What Experts Say?
“Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here.” – Kailash Satyarthi, Indian Activist
“Life is a gift of our Creator…And it should NEVER be for SALE.”
It is slavery in the modern age. Every year thousands of people, mainly women and children, are exploited by criminals who use them for forced labor or the sex trade. No country is immune. Almost all play a part, either as a source of trafficked people, transit point or destination. – United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon
“Slavery was abolished 150 years ago… and yet there are more people in slavery today than any other time in our history.”
“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that’s become ever more aggressive, that threatens not just individuals, but the foundational values of society.” – Pope Francis
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