A training program on local governance and human rights was held on June 10 in Maring Rural Municipality, Sindhuli District, jointly organized by Maring Rural Municipality and INSEC Bagmati Provincial Office, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission and coordinated by Swadhin Khabar Patrika.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Vice Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, Bimala Majhi, stated that the local government is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in addition to the rights granted by the Constitution and laws. She expressed confidence that, in the coming days, human rights issues would be further incorporated into the municipality’s policies, plans, budgets, and programs in order to make the municipality more human rights–friendly.
The Deputy Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Yagya Prasad Adhikari, stated that although the primary responsibility for the protection, promotion, and advancement of human rights lies with the State, the situation of human rights remains challenging due to the ineffective implementation of international commitments, as well as constitutional and legal provisions. He further emphasized that no development is possible without the right to education and urged local governments to ensure the right to education for every citizen.
The Acting Administrative Officer, Sanjeev Budhathoki, stated that human rights are a universal concept and should be enjoyed by every citizen of the world without discrimination. He added that Maring Rural Municipality is committed to allocating adequate budget and programs, recognizing the important role of local governments in the protection and promotion of human rights.
INSEC Bagmati Province Coordinator Shiva Prasad Khakurel requested local governments to adopt a human rights–based development approach as a mandatory practice in future budget formulation, ensuring the protection of human rights in planning processes.
Human Rights Officer of the National Human Rights Commission, Bagmati Provincial Office, Krishna Prasad Mishra, emphasized that issues such as disputes and conflicts at the local level should be resolved through dialogue and mediation. He highlighted the responsibility of judicial committees and mediators in promoting reconciliation and stressed the need to strengthen local judicial committees and prioritize the principle of “local problems, local solutions.”
The member of the Human Rights Defender Network, Bagmati Province, Rudra Bahadur Khadka, stated that local governments have the responsibility to protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He urged authorities to ensure the implementation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and to give serious attention to issues such as business and human rights, climate change, and digital literacy.
Teachers participating in the program emphasized the need for the effective implementation of the right to education.
Similarly, during the program, Yagya Prasad Adhikari facilitated discussions on human rights, good governance, and the right to education, while Shiva Prasad Khakurel conducted a session on local governance and human rights–friendly development approaches, and Human Rights Officer Krishna Prasad Mishra facilitated discussions on human rights and the role of local judicial committees.
During the same event, INSEC Bagmati Province Coordinator Khakurel submitted a proposal to Vice Chairperson Bimala Majhi for the inclusion of awareness programs on human rights and responsibilities, a Youth Human Rights Defenders Conference, environmental and human rights awareness programs, as well as initiatives on online abuse and digital literacy in the upcoming fiscal year.