Minister for Social Development of Lumbini Province Sudarshan Baral has stressed on the need to make the model bill active and strong.
This was emphasized by Minister Baral while addressing a dialogue program on the role of the provincial government in the protection and promotion of human rights defenders organized by INSEC Lumbini Provincial Office, Nepalgunj and financially supported by DCA.
Minister Baral said that the problem was due to the inability to look at the issue of human rights in an abstract manner and to clearly understand and explain the concept of human rights. Stating that the political sector is more discussed in Nepal while discussing about human rights, INSEC debated on issues related to human life, shelter, clothing, education, health, employment deprivation and why the government has not reached required the place. Minister Baral said that emphasis should be laid on strengthening the bill prepared in the context of the Human Rights Defenders Commission.
Provincial Assembly member Deepa BK said that they are taking initiative for the law by incorporating the voice of the citizens from every class.
Govinda Prasad Regmi, Lumbini Province’s Chairperson of the NGO Federation, accused the provincial government of not being serious in drafting the law. He said that the law was inconsistent as the provincial government was not serious about the law on association operation.
Advocate Meena Pandey said that the government at all three levels should be sensitive on the issue as there is a problem in the implementation of the law since it is not parallel with the federal law.
INSEC Lumbini Province Coordinator Bhola Mahat urged the provincial government to enact human rights friendly laws highlighting the objective of the model bill prepared by INSEC for the protection and promotion of human rights defenders.
Mahat said that the development of human rights promotion culture in the society would be possible only if the human rights defenders are empowered. He said that the provincial government should be active for the development of human rights.