Speaking at a consultation and interaction program on the Fifth National Action Plan on Human Rights organized by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) in Pokhara, Gandaki Province’s Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hari Bahadur Chuman has said that the constitution is the highest level document addressing human rights and it is ensured by the 31 fundamental rights in the constitution drafted by the people.
He informed that necessary laws are being formulated for the implementation of fundamental rights. He also expressed his commitment to fulfilling the responsibility given to the ministry by the action plan as a responsible body.
He said that there was a suspicion that the task of implementing the action plan would not be implemented properly. He said that the provincial government has allocated a budget for the promotion of human rights.
Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Kedar Nath Sharma, said that the work to be done by the three tiers of government and the time-bound action plan should be fulfilled.
He informed that the ministry is working on human rights education, implementation of decisions, and law-making in the action plan.
Regarding detention and prison management, he said that the ministry would take necessary action if there was a provincial prison system.
He said that the ministry was committed to make good use of the legal rights and implement them effectively.
Stating that the issues left out should be included in the sixth action plan, he said that the task given by the current action plan should be fulfilled.
Assistant Chief District Officer of the District Administration Office, Shreenath Poudel, said that the action plan has given workload and direction to all in the region.
He said that the tendency to point out the weaknesses of others should be abandoned rather than fulfilling one’s role properly.
“Let’s fulfill our responsibilities, work honestly, and move forward together to make the district a leading district in the field of human rights,” he said.
District Attorney Rudra Prasad Subedi said that it was the responsibility of the state to manage human rights.
Ram Prasad Subedi, central general secretary of the NGO Federation, said that it was necessary to implement the action plan brought by the government.
He said that the action plan has been formulated to take care of the issues to be taken care of by the stakeholders and make the citizens accountable.
He said that the government has to move ahead in partnership with the non-governmental sector but it has not been able to do so.
Chief of the Health Division at the Ministry of Social Development, Gandaki, Dr. Ram Bahadur KC said that the government is moving ahead to guarantee the right to health to the citizens.
He said that not only by setting up a hospital, but also the citizens themselves should be aware of health.
Bishnu Baral, coordinator of the civil society for peace, said that the civil society should actively work for the success of the action plan brought by the government.
He said that the objective of the action plan can be achieved only if the service flow is well-governed.
Taramaya Thapa, the chairperson of the Women’s Human Rights Defenders Network, Kaski, said that the government’s human rights action plan was positive.
Ramesh Subedi of Children Nepal suggested addressing the issue of children’s right to education after the Kovid infection.
Kunjani Pariyar Pyasi of the Advocacy Forum said that the action plan did not cover the issue of child justice.
Advocate Kamal Aryal, the chairperson of the Human Rights Protection Forum Kaski, said that it was necessary to review the fourth action plan when the fifth action plan was coming.
He said that the monitoring of the action plan by the government has raised doubts.
INSEC Gandaki Coordinator Shiva Khakurel said that the bodies assigned with the responsibilities in the Fourth Action Plan were unaware of their responsibilities during the monitoring.
He expressed confidence that the Fifth National Action Plan would be implemented effectively as the three levels of government have been assigned their respective jurisdictions and responsibilities.
He said that everyone has an equal responsibility to implement the action plan as it addresses the civil society in the mechanism.