The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal has stated that it has taken serious note of media reports alleging that the National Independent Party organized children under the age of 18 as party members.
The press release issued on July 1 states that, based on information received by the Commission and reports published in various media outlets alleging that the party had distributed memberships to children, the Commission wrote to the central office of the National Independent Party on June 29 seeking clarification.
According to the press release issued by Assistant Spokesperson and Under Secretary Shyam Babu Kafle, the letter states that if the report allegedly presented at the party’s general convention is accurate and the party has indeed distributed memberships to children under the age of 18, such an act would be contrary to the prevailing laws of Nepal and the country’s international commitments. The Commission has therefore requested, pursuant to Section 21(1) of the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2012, that the party provide detailed information as soon as possible on whether memberships were distributed to children.