The Chief Administrative Officer, Om Bahadur Darji, stated in the program that the local level has been continuously emphasizing human rights as a key component while formulating its policies and programs, and it will continue to prioritize them highly in upcoming plans as well. He also mentioned that citizens must fulfill their duties along with their rights, and expressed confidence that there is a shared commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.
Under Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Yagya Prasad Adhikari, stated that human rights are not a matter of anyone’s favor or charity but are inherent rights from birth. He further stressed that in the present context, local governments should focus on issues such as development, prosperity, employment, a clean environment, and technical education. He also emphasized the need to achieve a 100 percent school enrollment rate and to reduce the dropout rate before the completion of the study period.
INSEC Bagmati Province Coordinator, Shiva Prasad Khakurel, stated that each local level must adopt a human rights–friendly development approach while formulating any development plan. Member of the Human Rights Defenders Network, Bagmati Province, Rudra Bahadur Khadka, said that the training program was organized with the objective of protecting and promoting human rights. He also appealed that the rural municipality allocate budget in its policies and programs for the upliftment of marginalized groups, including the poor, women, Dalits, Indigenous nationalities, and other backward communities, in order to ensure human rights protection.
Mediator Baburam Lama stated that through the training program, mediators gained knowledge about effective mediation methods. He also expressed concern that mediation work has not been result-oriented, as mediators are required to work without salary or financial benefits.
Teachers participating in the program emphasized that in order to effectively implement human rights, the subject of human rights should be included in the school curriculum.
In the program, Yagya Prasad Adhikari facilitated sessions on human rights, good governance, and the right to education. Shiva Prasad Khakurel facilitated discussions on local government and human rights-friendly development approaches, while Krishna Prasad Mishra facilitated sessions on human rights and the role of local judicial committees.
During the same program, INSEC Bagmati Province Coordinator Khakurel submitted a proposal letter to the Chairperson of Bagmati Rural Municipality, Sarkesh Ghalan, suggesting the inclusion of awareness programs on human rights and duties, a youth human rights defenders conference, environmental and human rights awareness programs, as well as online abuse and digital literacy programs in the upcoming fiscal year.