500 children killed in conflict: NHRC

Kathmandu, Nov 21-The National Human Rights Commission has said that more than 500 children were killed due to the Maoist insurgency that erupted in 1996.

Speaking at an interaction in the capital on Sunday on the occasion of the 'International Child Rights Day', member of the Commission Sudip Pathak informed that the number was calculated on the basis of human rights monitoring report of 35 districts and complaints filed at different non-governmental organizations working in the field of child rights.

He added that the flaring conflict of the country has affected the child's right to live peacefully.

He informed that the NHRC is issuing a charter at the national level soon with the objective of declaring educational institutions a zone of peace. "We will introduce a charter at the national level within the next two months to declare educational institutions a zone of peace," he added.

He also said that the NHRC would take initiatives to make both the state and the Maoists sign the charter.

Other speakers, on the occasion, also urged the government to enforce its commitments to protect the rights of children.

main while On the occasion of 16th International Child Rights Day here today, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) and UNICEF jointly disseminated concluding observations on Nepal’s report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The committee noted several positive developments in terms of legislation, ratification of conventions, and development of national plans. At the same time, it also noted a climate of fear, insecurity and impunity resulting from the armed conflict and the state of emergency which had serious negative physical and psychological impact on the development of children in the country.

Nepal, a State party under article 44 of the convention, submitted its report to the CRC in May 2005, and the committee responded in June with a series of “Concluding Observations”.

Speaking on the occasion, minister Durga Shrestha said despite the government’s effort to create a favourable environment for children’s growth and their development the lack of financial and technical facilities, management skills on part of the government and the ongoing conflict are obstacles in the goal.

She added, “As part of extending services to the children’s sector, the government is gearing up to operate a bench for juvenile justice. Besides, a code of conduct to run the children’s home is in the final stages of preparation.”