Local-Level Training on Human Rights Concludes in Fikkal Rural Municipality

A one-day training programme on local governance and human rights was held on June 7, 2026, which was jointly organized by Fikkal Rural Municipality and INSEC Bagmati Province, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission Nepal, and coordinated by Swadhin Khabar Patrika, Sindhuli.

Addressing the programme, Chairperson Parvati Sunuwar of Fikkal Rural Municipality stated that all activities carried out by local governments are directly linked to the protection and promotion of human rights. She highlighted that the municipality has been working in coordination and collaboration with stakeholders while safeguarding fundamental rights. She also reiterated the municipality’s commitment to the effective implementation of free and compulsory education by engaging youth in all activities.

Chairperson Sunuwar further noted that budget allocation based solely on population has left geographically remote municipalities at a disadvantage, urging the federal government to pay special attention to this issue. She shared that the municipality has prioritised awareness-raising and tree plantation initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change, along with special programmes targeting senior citizens, women, children, and Dalit communities. She also expressed commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Human Rights Commission and INSEC.

At the closing session, Vice Chairperson Raju Baral stated that citizens’ expectations have not been fully addressed due to the lack of complete authority granted to local judicial committees. He added that continuous collaboration with various organisations would be maintained for the implementation of human rights-related programmes.

Speaking at the programme, Yagya Prasad Adhikati, Under-Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission Nepal, stated that although the primary responsibility for protecting, promoting, and safeguarding human rights lies within the state, the effective implementation of international commitments, the Constitution, and laws has not been achieved as expected, resulting in limited improvement in the human rights situation.

He further noted that the non-implementation of the Commission’s recommendations has made it difficult for victims to access justice, stressing the need to empower the Commission further in line with the Paris Principles.

Chief Administrative Officer Dambar Bahadur Rajan Magar expressed that the rural municipality is sensitive toward human rights and reaffirmed the commitment to continue conducting awareness programmes in collaboration with various social organisations.

Similarly, Shiva Prasad Khakurel, Coordinator of INSEC Bagmati Province, highlighted that local governments play a crucial role in implementing recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). He urged that these issues be incorporated into municipal policies and plans, and also suggested identifying potential areas of human rights violations within the municipality to design targeted interventions.

Human Rights Officer Krishna Prasad Mishra of the National Human Rights Commission, Bagmati Province Office, Hetauda, stated that meaningful improvement in the human rights situation cannot be achieved unless local governments prioritize human rights issues in a systematic manner.

Editor-in-Chief of Swadhin Khabar Patrika, Rudra Bahadur Khadka, shedding light on the objective of the programme, said that such trainings play an important role in raising public awareness for the protection and promotion of human rights. He also emphasized the importance of information in human rights protection and called for the establishment of an effective mechanism to collect information from victims.

Participant Loknath Pahadi of the Senior Citizens Network recalled the contribution of Yogmaya in protecting human rights and stressed the need for effective implementation of the National Human Rights Commission’s recommendations. Teacher Mamita Ghimire expressed that the training would support her teaching profession and noted that she gained additional knowledge about the roles, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of judicial committees.

Similarly, participants Tek Bahadur Thapa Magar, Indira Pahadi, and Jay Prasad Neupane shared that the knowledge and awareness gained from the training inspired them to become more actively engaged in human rights campaigns.

During the programme, Shiva Prasad Khakurel, Coordinator of INSEC Bagmati Province, facilitated sessions on human rights and the right to education, local governance and human rights, and human rights-friendly development practices. Human Rights Officer Krishna Prasad Mishra provided training on human rights and the role of local judicial committees.

On the occasion, a proposal for upcoming awareness programmes on human rights and duties, a youth human rights defenders conference, environment and human rights awareness activities, and online abuse and digital literacy programmes for the next fiscal year was submitted to Rural Municipality Chairperson Parvati Sunuwar.