KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a message on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of Nepal declared free from caste-based discrimination, has urged eradication of caste-based discrimination in practice.
The then parliament of Nepal on June 4, 2006, had declared Nepal to be an ‘Untouchability Free State’.
In a press statement issued by the NHRC’s Spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhattarai here today, the country’s constitutional human rights watchdog has appealed all the concerned sides to expresses their discontent over any caste-based incidents in a decent manner and patiently rather than resorting to violence or riot.
The statement reads, “The caste-based discrimination poses a threat to social harmony and communal amity. The Commission draws the attention of the government towards the recently occurred caste-based criminal incidents in Rukum West, Jajarkot, Rupandehi, Udayapur and Dhankuta. We urge the government to adopt zero-tolerance against such incidents and book the culprits.
The Commission has appealed all the citizens, political leaders and their sister organizations, people’s representatives, human rights defenders and media persons for their proactive role in weeding out the caste-based discrimination.
“The Constitution of Nepal under its fundamental rights has ensured a person’s right to live with dignity, to avail justice and to live without any form of untouchability or discrimination in private and public places on the grounds of his or her origin, caste, tribe, community, profession, occupation or physical condition,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, the statement stated that the Caste Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act -2068 BS and the Criminal Code 2074 BS of Nepal as well the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination-1965 of which Nepal is also a signatory had further guaranteed a person’s right to live without any form of discriminations. RSS
Despite having strong constitutional and legal provisions against caste-based discrimination, the Commission has expressed its concern over the increasing cases of caste-based discrimination across the country due to their lax implementation.
The Commission has also voiced its dismay over the failure of concerned authorities in identifying the culprits of such incidents and bringing them to justice.
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