Human Rights Forum Nepal (HURFON) is a website presenting links to articles on Nepal's human rights issues as well as important background information. The link collection has been started in September 2016.

HURFON is a subsite of Nepal Research. Its name goes back to an organisation that had been founded in Germany in 1990 but that had to be dissolved some years later. Issues of the periodical of this earlier organisation that had been published under the name Nepal Forum have been archived on this website.

Deal on reduced sentencing concerns rights defenders : A three-member panel representing the three major parties claims to have reached an agreement on reducing the sentence for serious conflict-era rights violators by three fourths (kp 26/07/2024) [The dishonest politicians simply refuse to do justice to the victims of the Maoist uprising, presumably because they are afraid of being held responsible themselves!], Three-party taskforce ‘near deal’ on transitional justice law amendments : Activists, victims decry reduced sentencing citing threats to judicial independence (kp 27/07/2024)

Journalist Shrestha receives bomb threat; calls for immediate action (rep 25/07/2024)

NC makes murder-accused Badshah a minister; Activists say the current govt belongs to ‘oppressors’ (rep 24/07/2024) [None of the parties has any scruples about covering up for people accused of capital offences or corrupt elements and promoting them to high political or administrative positions! Trials go on for many years and are repeatedly delayed.], NHRC urges against appointment of controversial figures to public office (kh 24/07/2024)

A Cabinet sans Dalits : The previous coalition government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal had no Dalit minister either., by Mitra Pariyar (kp 23/07/2024) [Nepal's male Bahun are so competent that they could actually do without other social groups completely. According to the constitutional rules of social inclusion, the current 22 ministers would include three Dalits but only one male Bahun (see Article 40 of the constitution)!]

Broken ladder for women in politics : The current state of the Cabinet is not just a disappointment; it is an outrage, by Divya Rana and Devika Thapa (kp 22/07/2024) [This applies not only to the lack of participation of women, but also to the continued marginalisation of Dalits, Muslims and other social groups, which together make up the overwhelming majority of the Nepalese population. This criticism affects not only politics, but all areas of public life. Male Bahunbad sends its regards!]

Bankariya people have become squatters in their own land : The endangered community members, known as the ‘children of land’, are rendered landless, a violation of their fundamental right to life, security, shelter and dignity, by Aarati Ray (kp 21/07/2024)

Achham landslip victims languish in temporary shelter : It is not possible to send the landslide displaced people home anytime soon as the risk is still there, chief district officer says, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 21/07/2024)

Police start inquiries about missing kin, families claim : Conflict victims’ rights advocates, relatives object to interrogations while two commissions stay idle, by Binod Ghimire (kp 18/07/2024)

Perplexities of the permanent minority : Strengthening the Khas-Arya supremacy appears to be the main agenda of the Oli government, by CK Lal (kp 17/07/2024)

Harnessing Demographic Diversity, by Jhabindra Bhandari (rn 17/07/2024)

SC orders eviction of squatters from riverbanks with compensation (kh 16/07/2024), Supreme Court orders removal of riverside squatters : Says authorities should clear settlements along Bagmati and provide alternative housing for genuine squatters, by Binod Ghimire (kp 17/07/2024), Court ruling to boost KMC’s push to evict riverside squatters: Bagmati Civilisation officials say squatter hut demolition will resume with a simultaneous relocation plan, by Purushottam Poudel (kp 18/07/2024)

Strengthening Indigenous Rights: Key to Peace and Prosperity in Nepal's Federal Era, by Nabraj Lama (rep 15/07/2024) [The ruling Khas Arya minority refuses to understand this!]

Oli Cabinet sans Dalit representation, women get two seats (kh 15/07/2024) [Outstanding social non-inclusion in the tradition of Khas Arya minority patriarchy!]

LMC demolishes illegal settlements in Balkumari (photos)  (kh 14/07/2024)

Nepal rights commission delays law revision after avoiding downgrade : Global alliance of rights bodies has called for NHRC Act revision in line with Paris Principles, by Binod Ghimire (kp 11/07/2024)

Govt decides to extend the terms of TJ bodies by one year (rep 11/07/2024) [Without the will for justice for the victims of the uprising, the creation of the necessary laws based on international standards and sufficient personnel and financial resources, this is a sham and a waste of time and money!]

People associated with entertainment sector are compelled to face sexual exploitation, forced labor (kh 11/07/2024)

Community initiatives in Lumbini Province are helping dropout girls return to school : In the villages of Rupandehi, cultural norms and economic pressures keep many Dalit and Muslim girls from school, by Sanju Paudel (kp 11/07/2024)

Bhutan: The Paradox of Happiness and Human Rights Violations, by CM Niroula (rep 11/07/2024)

Recurrent violence plagues Nepal’s juvenile correction centres : Watchdog says these homes resemble prisons, lack basic amenities and are overcrowded (kp 10/07/2024)

What’s in the sinister deal? The oppressed are beginning to worry that the Congress-UML pact is a conspiracy to curtail their rights and privileges, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 09/07/2024) [Even the drafting of the constitution was ultimately the work of the male high-caste elite, especially of the NC and UML. It included further steps to maintain the dominance and privileges of the traditional elite and to prevent the promised social inclusion, e.g. reduction of the proportional electoral system, release of the direct election system to the traditional male highcaste elite, cutting and naming of the provinces in the interests of the Khas Arya elite, identification of state and nation with the culture of the Khas Arya minority, non-implementation of the federal state, etc. Now it is obviously a matter of eliminating the few remaining improvements after the Maoist uprising and the end of the authoritarian Hindu monarchy.]

Missing state : Little has been done for those affected by floods and landslides over the years (kp 09/07/2024)

NHRC wants war crimes and crimes against humanity to be non-amnestiable : National Human Rights Commission unveils report today detailing its efforts and positions on transitional justice, by Binod Ghimire (kp 08/07/2024)

Bhutanese govt frees political prisoner Ram Bahadur Rai nearly after 32 years in prison (rep 08/07/2024)

Experts stress clear rationale, broad talks on constitution revision : An analyst says shrinking the scope of proportional representation would make Khas-Arya a more dominant force in Parliament, by Binod Ghimire (kp 07/07/2024) [This is the true face and intention of the ruling male Khas Arya minority (<15% of the population)! Their political leaders strictly reject appropriate social inclusion because they would then lose dominance and privileges in the multi-ethnic, non-patriarchal state. For them, politics is a toy without social responsibility!]

Chhaugoth demolition drive to resume in Achham : Besides demolishing menstrual sheds, local officials and activists will raise public awareness and take legal action against violators, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 04/07/2024)

Budget cut to hit pregnant women, new mums and children in Karnali : Officials say over 30 percent of children under five in Karnali Province are stunted, indicating chronic undernutrition in remote parts of the country, by Arjun Poudel (kp 04/07/2024)

Leaders claim deal near on reduced sentencing for insurgency-era crimesHouse panel members say all contentious issues will be resolved soon (kp 04/07/2024) [The well-founded criticism is not directed against the sentencing of the former perpetrators, some of whom have since been promoted to high-ranking positions, but is primarily about justice for the victims and their families. The potential responsibility of leading personalities on both the Maoist and state side must not be marginalised!]

Civil Society organizations appeal to govt against sending workers to conflict-ridden Israel (rep 03/07/2024)

Report reveals severe exploitation of Nepali workers in Malaysian detention centers, urgent rescue suggested (rep 02/07/2024)

Parties fail to reach agreement on TRC Bill; Meeting continues today (kh 28/06/2024) [Persons who were responsible for the crimes of that time are not qualified to formulate laws that provide justice for the victims of that time and their families!], Major parties resume talks on TRJ Bill amendment (kh 29/06/2024), Political parties resume talks on overdue transitional justice bill revision : On the agenda: Concerns of victims not directly involved, consensus on reduced sentencing (kp 29/06/2024)

Pride Month: Empowering Diversity And Rights, by Jhabindra Bhandari (rn 28/06/2024)

Government dragging feet on torture perpetrators: NHRC. Torture by security forces continues in detention centres and prisons, say National Human Rights Commission and two other rights organisations, by Binod Ghimire (kp 27/06/2024)

Dolpa man, wrongly jailed for nearly a year, released by apex court, by Ram Chandra Neupane (ae 27/06/2024)

NA Session: Lawmakers call for easing process of providing citizenship in mother’s name (kh 27/06/2024)

The cost of free speech : Julian Assange’s ordeal is a reality check of the price one must pay for speaking truth to power (kp 27/06/2024) [Investigative journalists are labelled as criminals when they dutifully expose the crimes of the state and politicians, in the USA as well as in Nepal!]

Heat wave threats: Keeping Nepali communities safe from rising temperatures, by Kriti Bhuju (ae 26/06/2024)

Protecting the right to employment, by Rakshya Singh (ae 26/06/2024)

Old medicine in ne 26/06/2024w bottles : Only an alternative political force under Dalit leadership will end the neglect of Dalit issues, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 25/06/2024)

Yet another term for transitional justice bodies amid uncertainties : Over nine years, their terms have been extended many times without expected results, by Binod Ghimire (kp 23/06/2024) [The persons responsible from the past are in power or in other positions and cover each other. How can we expect justice for the former victims and families?]

NA meeting : Women are unsafe due to Chhaupadi system, lawmakers say (rn 23/06/2024) [The reason is the unchanged patriarchal mindset in state and society!], Investigation’s underway in Accham-Chhaugoth incident: Home Minister Lamichhane (kh 24/06/2024), Home Ministry forms committee to end Chhaupadi tradition (kh 24/06/2024) [All this will be of little use as long as the state, government and parties themselves are firmly anchored in patriarchal high-caste thinking!]

Partisan interest in envoy picks tarnishes Nepal’s image :The government laid out criteria for ambassador appointments in 2019, only to be ignored, by Anil Giri (kp 23/06/2024) [And the overwhelming proportion of male Bahuns, who make up less than six per cent of the population, is once again staggering and demonstrates the absolute unwillingness of high-caste politicians when it comes to social inclusion!]

Low female birth rate poses gender imbalance challenges in Nepal, by Ruby Rauniyar (rep 22/06/2024) [This is a consequence of the patriarchal delusion, also practised in politics, that only males are real Nepalis. The deliberate abortion of female foetuses is a capital offence!]

Rights watchdog seeks progress report on probe into mysterious deaths, disappearance : In 2021, government promised to probe the mysterious deaths of Nankunni Dhobi and Sumarani Tharu, and the 2010 disappearance of Nirmala Kurmi. Families still await justice (kp 22/06/2024)

Experts call for more efforts to end discrimination in citizenship rights : Meanwhile, experts and other participants called for more media coverage on legal identity issue (kp 21/06/2024)

Muskan, Natalia: Symbol Of Hope, Resilience, by Chandani Hamal (rn 21/06/2024)

The issue of inclusion in politics, by Jeetendra Dev (ae 20/06/2024)

Girl raped in menstrual shed in Achham district, police say : Women are dying of asphyxiation or from snakebites. Many girls potential victims of rape in sheds over years, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 20/06/2024) [Why don't men go into cowsheds if they can't stand being in a house with menstruating women? This male arrogance is unbearable and a crime!], National disgrace : Every night a woman has to spend in a chhau shed should count as the death of the conscience of Nepali society (kp 21/06/2024)

NIC writes to Kathmandu DAO to submit factual details on activist arrests (rep 20/06/2024)

Dozens of agitating dairy farmers arrested as they stage protest demanding overdue payments (rep 19/06/2024) [Authoritarian measures to nip legitimate demands in the bud?]

Distant echoes of war : As Nepal’s transitional justice process remains incomplete, wartime sexual violence survivors continue to suffer while perpetrators are free, by Subina Shrestha (kp 19/06/2024), Legal, privacy doubts in local handling of conflict-era sexual violence complaints : Seven victims from a local unit in Sudurpaschim Province are in trouble after officials could not keep their secrets, by Binod Ghimire (kp 19/06/2024)

825 teachers resigned from political party memberships: Minister Shrestha. The education minister makes public achievements of her 100 days in office. Twenty teachers associated with political parties have resigned as teachers (kp 19/06/2024) [The government's order represents a serious encroachment on the personal freedoms of these people in a free democratic country!]

Justice for the disappeared: Why Nepal must ratify the ICPPED, by Aastha Pokhrel (ae 17/06/2024), Victims of conflict during Maoist-led war should receive compensation: Biplav (kh 17/06/2024) [Compensation alone does not mean justice!]

Protecting the elderly from abuse, by Poonam Pant (ae 17/06/2024)

Child marriage driving up maternal and newborn deaths: Report : Teenage pregnancy is highest in Karnali Province, at 21 percent, followed by Madhesh Province, at 20 percent, Koshi and Gandaki Province, at 13 percent, and Lumbini Province, at 10 percent, by Arjun Poudel (kp 15/06/2024)

Nepali queer couples in live-in relationships battle social stigma : They are often compelled to hide their relationship and lie to their homeowners and neighbours that they are either siblings or friends. Of late, things have changed for the better, however, by Manushree Mahat (kp 15/06/2024)

Nepal insurgency victim takes case to UN Security Council : Ram Kumar Bhandari’s father was forcibly disappeared by state security forces during the conflict in 2001, by Binod Ghimire (kp 14/06/2024)

Rape culture: Review long overdue : We must build an environment where victims are empowered and supported to speak up and stand for the truth, by Shrochis Karki (kp 14/06/2024)

NHRC’s 24th Birthday: We Would Like To Commend The Commission’s Continuous Vigilance, Adaptability, And Dedication, by Hanaa Singer-Hamdy (sp 14/06/2024)

National ID card mandatory for social security allowance (rn 13/06/2024) [And what about the millions of people who are denied citizenship by the state for reasons of patriarchal thinking?], Plan to make National ID cards mandatory draws flak : MPs say government has terrorised citizens by introducing the rule in haste. Department official defends the move (kp 14/06/2024)

KMC rescues child laborer from house of provincial lawmaker Sharma, files complaint against her (rep 13/06/2024)

Manpower companies exploiting youths in the guise of free visa and free ticket for foreign employment (rep 13/06/2024)

KMC rescues four child laborers from inside Singha Durbar (rep 13/06/2024)

Ruling, opposition parties unite against education ministry’s decisions : Major parties are miffed at Minister Sumana Shrestha’s decision to punish teachers involved in party politics, by Binod Ghimire (kp 13/06/2024) [Prohibiting teachers from participating in the political life of the country is a serious encroachment on the fundamental rights of these people!]

Panel highlights media’s role in women’s political visibility : Experts call for increased media support for women in Nepali politics (kp 13/06/2024)

A Bardibas settlement struggles with water shortages as sources dry up : Chure destruction and long drought have disrupted the water recharge system in the Tarai, says researcher, by Sunita Baral (kp 12/06/2024)

Policy recommendation to end untouchability : The state should introduce new laws and policies to enforce the constitutional and legal provisions against it, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 11/06/2024)

Nepal fails to act on human rights abuses: US Department of State (kh 11/06/2024) [see report on Nepal]

Activists pin high hopes as Nepal plans to set up consumer court this year : Observers call for simplifying the case filing process, pointing out that consumers avoid complex legal procedures, by Krishana Prasain (kp 11/06/2024), An analysis of consumer rights law and reality in Nepal, by Swekshya Karki (rep 11/06/2024)

Residents of Khoriya settlement in Siraha are deprived of basic facilities and services : The village does not have roads, water supply and electricity. Villagers say they feel ignored by authorities, by Binay Aazad (kp 09/06/2024)

Legal Education Empowers Dalits, by Umesh Raj Regmi and Rup Sunar (rn 09/06/2024)

Kathmandu street vendors lament lack of options two years since ban : City is cleaner and better, but its benefits are not reaching the economically disadvantaged residents relying on street vending for livelihood, they say, by Manushree Mahat (kp 09/06/2024) [Unfortunately, many of the mayor's sledgehammer methods have not been thought through to the end!]

Study reveals 71 percent of Dalit women face violence due to inter-caste marriage, by Pabitra Sunar (rep 07/06/2024)

Court orders fair compensation for land affected by transmission lines : Providing compensation for the land where a transmission tower stands alone is not enough. It should follow justifiable compensation for the right of way as well, by Binod Ghimire (kp 07/06/2024)

Children ill with jaundice in quake-hit Salyan settlements : Health workers and local officials attribute rising cases to hot weather, consumption of polluted water, and poor living conditions, by Biplab Maharjan (kp 06/06/2024) [What did PK Dahal and other leading politicians declare during their disaster tourism trips to the earthquake zone? Correct: This time there will be immediate and unbureaucratic help for the people affected. That was it then!]

PM Dahal advocates for prior rights for Dalit community (kh 03/06/2024) [Dalits need comprehensive inclusion, involving appropriate political and administrative participation. There are more Dalits than Bahuns in Nepal. The latter dominate all areas of public life and politics. Dalits are virtually non-existent there. Even the prescribed participation of Dalit women at the local level is more pseudo, as recent reports have shown!]

Taming of the shrews : Even in politics, the men in charge prefer women who embody traditional femininity, by Sucheta Pyakuryal (kp 03/06/2024)

Women in politics and policy-making positions in Nepal, by Pallav Bhusal (rn 02/06/2024)

Increasing Investment In Women’s Health, by Shyam P Lohani (rn 02/06/2024)

Women with disabilities struggle to exercise reproductive health rights : Absence of accessible infrastructure and lack of awareness among health workers are some of the hurdles, by Manushree Mahat (kp 01/06/2024)

Jail the messenger : There is freedom of expression in Nepal, but not necessarily freedom after expression (nt 31/05/2024)

Eerie silence : The cost of not speaking up against blatant attack on free speech could be too high for our democracy (kp 30/05/2024)

Save Chure campaigners express dismay at government indifference to their demands : It’s been six days since the campaigners arrived in Kathmandu after their arduous walking journey, but the government has made no efforts to initiate talks, by Manushree Mahat (kp 30/05/2024)

Dolakha children’s home damaged by 2015 quakes remains in dilapidated condition, nine years later : All five buildings of the Gaurishankar Children’s Home, which houses 17 children, have developed cracks, the roofs leak, and children live in fear, by Kedar Shiwakoti (kp 30/05/2024)

Cross-party leaders visiting Colombia to study its transitional justice process : Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak says they will learn from the performance of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (kp 30/05/2024) [Enjoy your journey. It will do nothing for the peace process as long as there is no political will and the people who were once responsible are still in office!]

Government to set up peace fund to address conflict victims’ concerns : Rs1 million was offered in relief to the families of those killed or forcibly disappeared during the decade-long Maoist insurgency but many have been left out (kp 29/05/2024) [This alone is not enough for justice! Furthermore, the amount of not even 7,000 euros is completely inappropriate.]

Undrinkable : Safe drinking water is a fundamental right. The authorities are duty-bound to fulfil that (kp 29/05/2024)

For women in foreign employment, the way to empowerment back home is not easy : Stories of three women who returned from abroad for good and started a new life back home, overcoming barriers aplenty, by Sunita Baral (kp 29/05/2024)

33% of women in Nepal own property (kh 28/05/2024), Female participation in civil service reaches 28.5 percent (kh 28/05/2024)

Women are unequally vulnerable to disaster risk : Gender issues are just an afterthought in contemporary DRR policies and practices, by Priya Kamarcharya (kp 28/05/2024)

People are now listening to democratically elected authoritarian leaders : It is shocking to me that some killings are considered non-serious, and could lead to de facto amnesty for those responsible, interview with Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard by Binod Ghimire (kp 27/05/2024), Asian Human Rights Commission condemns arrest of KMG Chair Sirohiya : Accuses Home Minister Lamichhane of political vendetta to silence the press (kp 27/05/2024) [Those responsible should be arrested and brought to justice instead of Sirohiya, including all those who support the machinations out of pure greed for power and protect the really guilty from prosecution!], Representatives from various fields come together to condemn Sirohiya’s arrest : They termed the arrest an attempt to suppress voices from other critical communities (kp 27/05/2024)

Elderly in outlying Achham villages trek up to three days to collect social security allowances : Efforts by some local units to distribute allowances from ward offices have faced challenges owing to resource crunch and poor internet, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 27/05/2024)

Sirohiya’s arrest unconstitutional and against the law: Former President Yadav. If there was any mistake in the citizenship certificate, the CDO could have sent a letter to the individual and corrected that, by Deepak Pariyar (kp 26/05/2024), Challenges of Nepali democracy : The actions of Prime Minister Dahal and his partners show that staying in power is their only goal, by Abhi Subedi (kp 26/05/2024)

21 editors of outlets across Asia call on PM Dahal to stop media intimidation : The umbrella body requested an immediate cessation of further police action and facilitation of a fair and appropriate legal process in the Sirohiya case (kp 26/05/2024)

Couples who remain childless by choice face societal othering : Nepali society doesn’t yet accommodate the idea of staying childless as a choice, say experts. And it’s women who are often blamed for not conceiving a child, by Manushree Mahat (kp 25/05/2024),Take it easy, baby : Whether or not women have children should be a matter of their personal choice, not societal pressure (kp 27/05/2024)

Amnesty International’s Secretary-General pays courtesy call on PM Dahal (kh 24/05/2024)

Analyzing SC’s decision on marital rape : Failing to recognize marital rape as a heinous crime will dissuade victims from seeking justice, by Harsh Mahaseth and Dikshya Adhikari (rep 24/05/2024)

Feminism Is All About Equal Opportunities, by Kreeti Adhikari (rn 24/05/2024)

The cry of Chure : The region’s degradation impacts the lives of all Nepalis, and the government must act fast to save it (kp 24/05/2024)

Parties divided over naming Lamichhane in probe panel ToR : Opposition insists on investigating the home minister. Coalition says targeting an individual sets bad precedent, by Binod Ghimire (kp 24/05/2024) [It is not about any individual, but about the Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Of course he must be included in the investigation. But the government is obviously more concerned about maintaining its parliamentary majority!]

Global media bodies take serious exception to KMG chairman’s arrest : Sirohiya must be released and the work of the KMG protected, not hindered, says RSF (kp 24/05/2024), KMG chair Kailash Sirohiya’s defence at Dhanusha district court : His lawyers on Wednesday explained how discrepancies had crept into Sirohiya’s citizenship card, as well as the official records. The arrest is needless as the defendant has no chance of altering the evidence when not in custody,’ they say (kp 24/05/2024), Business organisations object to arrest of Kantipur publisher : The FNCCI, CNI, NCC, and AAN, among others, say the tendency of arresting anyone just based on a complaint is problematic (kp 24/05/2024)

Push ahead with probe against home minister on dual passports and cooperatives fraud : A joint letter submitted by 31 editors to PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the arrest of KMG Chairman Kailash Sirohiya (kp 23/05/2024), Congress vows to toughen stance on home minister investigation : Many leaders now say Lamichhane must quit for abusing his office to settle a personal score, by Anil Giri (kp 23/05/2024) [Dahal will probably have to make a decision: Is the rule of law more important to him or saving his ruling majority by suppressing the investigation of the truth?],
Sirohiya’s arrest draws widespread condemnation : More than two dozen editors conclude that the government had arrested KMG Chairman Sirohiya with the intent to pile pressure on, and instill fear in, the media fraternity (kp 23/05/2024), Society of Professional Journalists questions motive behind Sirohiya’s arrest : Calls on the government to reaffirm its commitment to free and unfettered press (kh 23/05/2024), Arrest of Kailash Sirohiya is deeply concerning: IFJ (kp 23/05/2024) [see statement by IFJ], Sirohiya to be presented at court for remand extension (kh 24/05/2024))

177 human rights violations recorded in Koshi Province last fiscal year (kh 22/05/2024)

Beyond Quotas for Women's Political Empowerment, by Aastha Pokharel (rep 22/05/2024)

Children from impoverished families missing school or struggling with attendance : Dropout rates and irregular attendance are high among girls, says Achham local unit official, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 22/05/2024)

Vendetta against media : Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has exposed his anti-democratic character with the arrest of Kantipur Media Group chairman (kp 22/05/2024)

Dhanusha Police cite 6 grounds for arresting Kailash Sirohiya : Sirohiya in custody of District Police Office, Dhanusha (kh 22/05/2024) [The reasons given may need to be clarified, but they are never enough to justify the arrest of a media boss whose publications reveal the machinations of many a politician on the basis of meticulous research. There have been politicians who did not even have Nepali citizenship, participated in elections and then even became Deputy Prime Minister! Others have unhinged the state and constitution and continue to manipulate political events and want to become PM again as soon as possible. Still others have been facing murder charges for years and still hold leading state offices. The list could go on and on. This is a targeted attack on the free media, nothing else!], Sirohiya presented at Dhanusha District Court, police seek five-day remand (kh 22/05/2024), Arrest of KMG Chairman Sirohiya not a press freedom violation: RSP. "Distinction must be made between a profit-driven private enterprise and diligent journalist" (kh 22/05/2024) [Okay, then Mr Lamichhane should be arrested immediately, because a distinction must be made between an upright politician who is interested in clarification and corrupt people who are interested in enrichment.], PM’s response: No personal grudge against Sirohiya, will be released easily through judicial process (kh 22/05/2024) [This arrest is serious and inexcusable. Besides, how can a politician announce in advance what a court will decide? This is an abolition of the separation of powers!], KMG Chair Sirohiya to be presented at Dhanusha District Court for custody extension (kh 22/05/2024) [The accusation could have been cleared up without an arrest!], Freedom of press, accountability, and transparency are guiding principles: US (kh 22/05/2024), Editors pen letter to PM expressing concern over KMG Chairman Sirohiya’s arrest (kh 22/05/2024), Dhanusha District Court grants three-day-remand against KMG Chair Sirohiya (kh 22/05/2024)

Dhanusha Court grants permission to issue arrest warrant against KMG Chairman Kailash Sirohiya (kh 21/05/2024), KMG Chairman Sirohiya approaches SC seeking an order to prevent his arrest (rep 21/05/2024), KMG Chairman Sirohiya alleges strategic intervention in media (rep 21/05/2024), KMG Chairman Sirohia arrested, police preparing to take him to Janakpur (rep 21/05/2024), Arrest of KMG Chairman Sirohiya a planned conspiracy by Home Minister Lamichhane: Senior Journalist Ghimire (kh 21/05/2024), SC receives another writ against arrest of KMG Chair Sirohiya (kh 21/05/2024)

Unpaid and abused in jobs, women warn against seeking Gulf employment : When Bindra Devi Pariyar was ill, her Kuwaiti employers tortured her by pouring boiling water on her, and locked her in cage, by Tripti Shahi (kp 20/05/2024)

People with disabilities demand personal assistance services : NHRC has accused the police of using excessive force even as people with disabilities were protesting for their rights, by Manushree Mahat (kp 20/05/2024)

Jaleshwar jail: Overcrowded and dilapidated (kh 20/05/2024)

Committee to select office bearers for transitional justice bodies remains idle : The panel was formed last month despite reservations from the conflict victims and human rights defenders who want legal amendments before appointing office bearers (kp 19/05/2024) [Justice for the victims is not desired by the politicians, as this could jeopardise their ambitions for power!]

No caution even as toxic air takes heavy toll on public health : Pollution shaving 6.7 years off the lives of people residing in Siraha, and 6.2 years in Saptari and Rupandehi districts, by Arjun Poudel (kp 18/05/2024) [Inaction by a completely incompetent government that only cares about political power struggles!]

Quake-hit Jajarkot villages reel under water shortage after sources dry up : The magnitude 6.4 earthquake last November damaged 480 drinking water projects in Jajarkot, Salyan, and Rukum West districts, by Krishna Prasad Gautam and Harihar Singh Rathour (kp 18/05/2024) [Another case of denial of immediate assistance!]

Ensuring Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities in Nepal, by Nir Shrestha (rep 18/05/2024)

SC directs implementation of employment plan for sidewalk vendors (kh 17/05/2024)

Kin say girl shot by former teacher after she refused to withdraw rape complaint : Incident occurred on May 3. Suspect at large. Police clueless of his whereabouts. Family struggles to pay hospital bills, which have reached Rs500,000, by Parbat Portel (kp 16/05/2024)

Patan High Court grants clean chit to Sandeep Lamichhane in rape case (kh 15/05/2024) [And what about the victim?], Patan High Court clears Lamichhane of rape charge : Bench says the victim was not a minor at the time, and there was insufficient evidence to confirm rape, by Binod Ghimire and Dil Kumar Ale Magar (kp 16/05/2024) [A disconcerting judgement that smacks of patriarchal thinking and celebrity protection!], Congress-UML rivalry comes to boil over tea estate land swap controversy : Oli says the court was selective in its ruling on the land, exempting similar past decisions, by Purushottam Poudel (kp)

Reviewing Amnesty’s report on Dalits : Caste is so sacred for many Nepalis that they would rather go to jail or die than flout caste rules, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 14/05/2024)

Case filed at SC against PMO alleging exclusion of Dalit representation in current govt (rep 14/05/2024)

Kagbeni residents fear monsoon havoc amid government inaction after last year’s flooding : Local units cannot prepare for disaster management as it requires huge funds and expertise, so provincial and central governments must take measures to reduce the risk, says expert, by Basant Pratap Singh (kp 14/05/2024) [But the politicians are so busy with constant power struggles and changes of government that they can't worry about such unimportant things!]

No stone should be left unturned to ensure justice for conflict victims : Organising the Investment Summit ahead of the 2026 LDC graduation has reinforced the message that Nepal’s market is open and ready for private investment, interview with United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nepal Hanaa Singer-Hamdy (kp 13/05/2024)

Between politics and education : Political parties will harm education if they continue using students and teachers for politics, by Abhi Subedi (kp 12/05/2024) [The abuse of teachers and pupils for party political interests is reprehensible, but difficult to avoid, as the basic right of all people to political engagement must be respected in a democratic state.]

Incidents of press freedom violation on the rise in the past one year (rep 12/05/2024) [see report by Freedom Forum]

Reparation no substitute for truth and prosecution, say conflict victims, activists : They ask for uniformity among state bodies on addressing the victims’ reparative needs, by Binod Ghimire (kp 12/05/2024)

Caste discrimination against Dalits is systemic and widespread: Amnesty International report : There is an urgent need to take special measures to improve the situation of Dalit women and girls, the organisation says in a new report (kp 11/05/2024) [see Amnesty International report], Who cares? Amnesty International issues scathing report on caste-based discrimination in Nepal (nt 17/05/2024)

Family Rights Nepal raises issues of Nepali citizens’s foreign spouses and children deprived of natural rights due to unclear laws (rep 10/05/2024)

Child marriage and teenage pregnancies afflict Achham : Despite being outlawed, underage marriages persist. As teenagers elope and often get pregnant, parents are forced to arrange their marriages, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 09/05/2024)

Experts call for carving feminist policies including foreign policy : Nepal has been unable to translate its constitutional and international commitments on gender equality, Ansari says (kp 08/05/2024)

Ministry Reports: Nearly 80% of women still face violence in Nepal (kh 07/05/2024)

CZOP urges govt to prioritize child rights issues (rep 07/05/2024)

Poor understanding of consent fuelling adolescent dating violence : Inclusion of consent as a significant aspect of sex education would be a step forward, experts say, by Manushree Mahat (kp 07/05/2024)

Inclusive Election in Nepal, by Dev Datta Joshi (rep 07/05/2024)

Status of RTI implementation in Nepal : RTI implementation is still challenging despite the RTI act promulgated over 15 years ago, by Umesh Pokharel (ae 06/05/2024)

Dalit women in local governance : Political parties must understand that quotas don’t ensure adequate and meaningful resources, by Sajhana Tolange (kp 05/05/2024)

Patan High Court defers cricketer Lamichhane’s case : Lamichhane's cause list "cancelled" for today (kh 05/05/2024)

Experts stress recognition of indigenous communities’ rights to foster sustainable tourism, by Aesha Bajracharya (rep 04/05/2024)

Press under Pressure : When the other pillars of democracy fail to act as check and balance, the press has to step in to hold power to account, by Sonia Awale (nt 03/05/2024)

Media freedom in Nepal : Despite the constitution guaranteeing legal provisions, there has been little progress in implementation, by Umesh Pokharel (kp 03/05/2024), Media Action Nepal report highlights 34 press violation incidents over the year (kh 03/05/2024), Governments not protecting press freedom, report says (kh 03/05/2024)

Supreme Court sets new precedent, distinguishes marital rape from rape in a landmark ruling, by Bhasa Sharma (rep 02/05/2024) [According to the patriarchal Nepalese way of thinking, women become the property of their husbands when they get married and have to be submissive?]

NHRC to stay away from office-bearer nomination panel : Conflict victims want amendments to transitional justice bill before the process to appoint office bearers begins, by Binod Ghimire (kp 02/05/2024)

Government recognises forest fires as disaster but neglects victims : Impoverished forest fire victims are struggling in hospitals unable to pay for medicines, by Arjun Poudel (kp 01/05/2024)

NHRC calls for promoting labor rights (kh 01/05/2024), Rights organisations call for addressing problems of agriculture labourers (nlt 01/05/2024)

Regulatory void complicates child adoption process in Nepal : While international adoptions have been banned over child trafficking and abuse concerns, domestic adoptions are also not easy, by Manushree Mahat (kp 01/05/2024)

Preserving Nepal’s Indigenous Communities : Assessing the Need for Expanded Protected Areas, by Sasha Sunuwar (kh 29/04/2024)

Toxic air is giving young children asthma : Doctors say it could damage lungs, and urge prompt medical attention for symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, by Arjun Poudel (kp 29/04/2024)

Government retains disputed provisions in new media council bill : The communications ministry on Thursday registered the bill, which envisions a committee led by its secretary to select the chairperson and members of the council, by Binod Ghimire (kp 28/04/2024)

Navigating Nepal's Labor Rights Landscape, by Anupam Bhattarai (rn 27/04/2024)

Violence Haunts Madhesh Women, by Bishakha Mahato (rn 26/04/2024)

Ensure migrant workers’ voting rights: Lawmakers (ae 26/04/2024) [The right to vote is one of the fundamental rights of all Nepalese citizens. The SC instructed the government to guarantee this right a long time ago. But this right is still denied to 25 per cent of the citizens!]

Nepal fails to make progress towards delivering truth, justice and reparations to victims of Maoist conflict: Amnesty (nlt 26/04/2024), Youth attempts suicide amid police torture over Facebook comments against home minister, by Tapendra Karki (rep 26/04/2024) [The Maoist-led government is even committing new human rights violations through the police, who are fond of torture!]

MoEST seeks EC’s help in identifying teachers linked to political parties (rep 25/04/2024) [The right to be involved in political parties and to actively participate in political life is one of the fundamental rights of every human being in democratic constitutional states; this must therefore also apply to Nepalese teachers!]

Chhau sheds reappear. Deep-rooted tradition, failed campaign blamed : Four years ago, a one-off campaign was launched by the government to dismantle menstruation sheds, but there was no follow-up, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 24/04/2024) [Why don't men go to cow sheds during their wives' periods when they can no longer stand being under the same roof as their wives?], The return of the chhau : Our campaigns to educate the people about the ills of ‘chhaupadi’ are inadequate (kp 25/04/2024)

SC issues show cause order in Gaur Massacre case (kh 24/04/2024), Top court intervenes in Gaur massacre case : The Supreme Court orders the Rautahat District Police Office and the District Attorney’s Office to furnish written clarifications for not investigating the mass killing of 2007 (kp 25/04/2024)

SC to hear case against former Speaker Sapkota’s alleged involvement in murder (kh 24/04/2024)

Devi Khadka: The champion of sexual violence victims (rep 23/04/2024)

A vocal champion of indigenous rights : Journalist Dev Kumar Sunuwar has broken barriers in media representation of the indigenous community, by Aarati Ray (kp 22/04/2024)

Dilapidated Rolpa district prison housing inmates twice its capacity : Prisoners, especially those in judicial custody, face frequent attacks from older inmates, by Kashiram Dangi (kp 20/04/2024)

Shore Up Adaptive Social Protection, by Lok Nath Bhusal (rn 18/04/2024)

Education Minister, Chief Election Commissioner discuss action against party-affiliated teachers (kh 16/04/2024) [The chancellor of all universities must be the prime minister, but teachers are denied the fundamental right to be involved in a political party. This is extremely strange!], Government to crack down on teachers engaged in partisan politics : Ministry of Education asserts action aligns law, court orders, and international practice (kp 17/04/2024) [This is definitely not a practice in truly democratic states! All citizens have the fundamental right to be politically active. Let's take Germany as an example: teachers are active in political parties in large numbers and many of them hold public office, at best taking temporary leave of absence for practical reasons and then returning to their teaching jobs. Punishing teachers for their political engagement is a crime!], Teachers’ union challenges Education Minister Shrestha's policy on political affiliation (rep 19/04/2024) [This is correct and justified on the basis of international concepts of democracy and fundamental human rights!]

Dalits and ritual pollution : Dalit freedom is impossible until they question the beliefs and practices of untouchability in rituals, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 16/04/2024)

Presumption of innocence and Nepali attitude, by Aawesh Bhadra Karn (ae 16/04/2024)

Aging with Dignity: Voices from elderly reveal changing times and hopes for the future, by Pushpanjali Basnet (kh 16/04/2024)

Laws on marital rape still murky in Nepal : The separation of rape law and marital rape law, and other legal loopholes have denied victims of spousal rape real justice, rights activists say, by Manushree Mahat (kp 15/04/2024)

Interaction to stop child marriage in Bajura (rn 15/04/2024)

'Victim blaming'- Nepali society's response to sexual violence, by Aastha Pokharel (rep 14/04/2024)

Environmental justice for Harawa-Charawa : They face a higher risk of climate-induced stressors because of economic discrimination based on caste and class, by Suresh Dahal (kp 14/04/2024)

Restriction on prominent public spaces lifted; Ministry mulls action against vandals (kh 13/04/2024), Maitighar-Baneshwor area opens up for demonstrations and protests (kh 13/04/2024), Kathmandu DAO lifts ban on protests from Maitighar Mandala to Baneshwor amid public pressure (rep 14/04/2024)

Ward Chairman ties service recipient to tree, beats him indiscriminately in Parsa's Jagarnathpur, by Bimala Gupta (rep 13/04/2024)

Govt forms Recommendation Committee to appoint TRC officer-bearers (kh 12/04/2024), Victims decry TJ office bearers selection panel without amending law : Rights activists say government trod the wrong path by forming the committee before revising the transitional justice law, by Binod Ghimire (kp 14/04/2024)

One-third women representation an important achievement, but not enough: Former President Bhandari : She stresses on striving for proportional representation while also safeguarding the opportunities that are already achieved (kp 12/04/2024) [Without an end to patriarchal thinking and behaviour, the equal participation of women will remain a pseudo-issue!]

What hinders women’s meaningful representation : Achieving true gender equality requires policies that respect, value and treat women equally, by Rabina Shrestha (kp 11/04/2024)

Being a woman in Karnali -Three days in Jajarkot and Rukum!, by Samjhana Bista (rep 11/04/2024)

Dalit ex-chief of district body alleges caste-based abuse : Somnath Portel accuses Dambar Giri, an ex-vice-chair of Haldibari Rural Municipality, of verbally abusing him with caste-related derogatory words, by Parbat Portel (kp 11/04/2024)

Of suitcases and caskets : The sorry saga of Dhan Bahadurs who go abroad with big dreams returning home dead should end (kp 11/04/2024)

Police head constable assaults constable inside Singha Durbar for not saluting him (rep 09/04/2024) [Another case of human rights violations by police personnel!]

Departmental action taken against police personnel involved in abusing monks (rep 08/04/2024) [No police officer has the right to treat people in this way! It may have been normal under the royal regime, e.g. also during Gyanendra's coup and Jana Andolan II!]

Analyzing Marital Rape Laws in Nepal, by Ruchi Dhital (rep 07/04/2024)

Collective commitment to prevent child marriage in Madhes (rn 05/04/2024)

Marital rape allegations leveled against singer Rabi Oad (kh 05/04/2024)

Of women and strongmen : Hardly have women begun to creep to the top and men already think women have too much power, by Deepak Thapa (kp 04/04/2024)

KMC warns to take action if institutional schools fail to adopt names reflecting Nepali identity (rep 03/04/2024) [Yes, and people whose parents have given them a non-Nepali first name must change their name within a week! What nonsense and a blatant violation of personal freedoms! But then the English names of political parties must also be changed immediately!! Even the word "Party" should not be allowed! And what about "Kathmandu Metropolitan City"?]

Supreme Court orders detention of suspended Judge Giri in marital rape case (kh 03/04/2024), Judge Giri jailed on marital rape charges (rep 15/04/2024), Former Judge Giri sentenced to jail (kh 15/04/2024)

Insurgency victims divided over timing of law amendment : A group says amendment first, another urges swift appointment of office bearers to two commissions, by Binod Ghimire (kp 03/04/2024), Unheeded, unhealed : Some conflict victims might be divided, but the issue of transitional justice won’t die down (kp 04/04/2024)

Emptying out : As politicians squabble for power and perks, people continue to move out of rural Nepal for lack of basic amenities (kp 03/04/2024)

Climate Change Hits Pregnant Women, by Namrata Sharma (rn 03/04/2024)

Songs of hate : Singers often overlook controversial subject matters, not least caste and gender discrimination, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 02/04/2024)

After 16 years on the run, two fugitives arrested for trafficking three Nepali women to Indian brothels (rep 01/04/2024)

Deconstructing flawed gender norms in fairy tales, by Shreyashi Bista (ae 01/04/2024)

Nepal's Transitional Justice: Gender Based Or Gender Biased : Transitional justice mechanisms exhibit various shortcomings, such as the inadequate addressing of gender-based violations and concerns, particularly those impacting women, by Keshab Poudel (sp 29/03/2024)

Minister Bhandari assures to make arrangement to promote Nepali dress code twice a week in state institutions (kh 29/03/2024) [What does "Nepali attire" mean in a multiethnic, multicultural state? Hopefully, Khas Arya attire is not being defined as national attire here!]

NC President Deuba nominates 10 members to party’s cooperative department (rep 29/03/2024) [Nominations by the all-powerful party leader are extremely democratic. Nominating only male Bahuns speaks for excellent social inclusion. After all, male Bahuns make up almost six per cent of the population and there are still a few positions that are not held by them!]

Focus on transitional justice (ae 29/03/2024)

Dahal and Deuba meet as conflict victims grow weary : The two leaders convened after victims pressed Dahal over stalled transitional justice process (kp 29/03/2024)

Government rejects rights commission’s secretary pick citing lack of transparency : Constitutional rights body asserts autonomy, claims that executive can’t demand confidential documents, by Binod Ghimire (kp 28/03/2024)

Equality For Dalits Remains A Far Cry, by Namrata Sharma (rn 27/03/2024)

Nalgad ward offices collect money from quake victims (rn 27/03/2024) [??]

Human Trafficking - An assault of the human civilization, by Aslesha Luitel (rep 26/03/2024)

Woman consumes poison in National Women Commission premises (kh 25/03/2024)

Low literacy rate among people with disabilities raises concerns (kh 25/03/2024)

Kathmandu District Court orders to release Sharmila Waiba (kh 25/03/2024)

Justice, when? The Supreme Court directive is an opportunity to put the derailed transitional justice back on the right track, by Suman Adhikari (kp 25/03/2024)

SC asks govt to establish Juvenile Court within this fiscal year (kh 25/03/2024)

Rabi’s Freudian slip : It’s Rabi versus Rabi now, and in this duel between the two selves lies the potential loss of media freedom (kp 25/03/2024)

Law revision must for transitional justice progress, victims say : Parties disagree over categorising killings, indirect victims of conflict, reduced sentencing, and reconciliation refusal, by Binod Ghimire (kp 23/03/2024)

Only 27% of population has access to pure drinking water (kh 23/03/202)

Enhance Legislative Accountability With PLS, by Suravi Rijal (rn 22/03/2024)

Dignity matters for porters sustaining tourism of Khumbu region (kh 20/03/2024)

Census data exposes widespread occurrences of child marriage, by Surendra Kafle (ae 19/03/2024)

Nuwakot Dalits: A grim story : Water is considered a superconductor of ‘caste pollution’ in our Hindu-dominated society, by Mitra Pariyar (kp 19/03/2024)

NHRC requests govt to protect lives of cooperative victims participating in hunger strike (rep 19/03/2024)

Niraula appointed as DG of DoI, new CDOs assigned in 11 districts (rep 19/03/2024) [Social non-inclusion is alive and well!], 19 candidates in running for Sebon chair (ae 19/03/2024) [And again the same game! That those responsible are not ashamed to only consider people from this small social minority!]

AWC urges swift action on transitional justice following recent judicial decisions (rep 19/03/2024)

Court gives executive four months to set up juvenile courts : In their absence, rehabilitation of children is affected as regular courts often fail to properly handle the cases (kp 17/03/2024)

Decades after joining CEDAW, Nepal struggles with implementation (kh 16/03/2024)

World Consumer Rights Day: Here’s why Nepali consumers are upset. Consumers are being cheated left and right, yet the government appears to be making minimal effort to address the issues, by Krishana Prasain (kp 16/03/2024)

Diarrhoeal outbreak risk rises as mercury ticks up in quake-hit districts, by Arjun  Poudel (kp 16/03/2024) [Failure of the government to provide timely assistance!]

‘Bank Account for Daughters, for Secure Life’ programme ineffective in Karnali : The provincial government has not deposited the promised amounts in the girls’ accounts for the past two fiscal years, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp 15/03/2024) [So much for the credibility of politicians' statements!]

Nepal ranks 146th on Human Development Index: UNDP report (kh 15/03/2024) [see complete report by UNDP, Snapshots and Specific Country Data Nepal]

Child serving time for mother's mistake in overcrowded Kalikot Jail (rep 14/03/2024)

Court orders parties not to abuse proportional representation system : Constitutional Bench directs them to follow constitutional spirit of giving space to under-represented populations, by Binod Ghimire (kp) [The leading politicians do not abide by the constitution and subordinate laws or court orders, i.e. they will continue to pursue their non-inclusive nepotism system!], Elite capture : The usurpation of the PR system by imposters has sowed suspicion about the idea of representation (kp 15/03/2024)

Govt advocates file petition at Patan High Court for stronger action against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane in rape case (kh 14/03/2024)

Gender equality begins at home, by Shivani Chenjong (ae 13/03/2024)

Court orders government to appoint leaderships at transitional justice bodies : The top court has given a month for the government to start the selection process (kp 13/03/2024)

Government, loan shark victims reach agreement : Government to form an inquiry commission. Struggling committee withdraws protests (kp 12/03/2024), Commission faces daunting task amid rising cases of usury
Settling thousands of complaints within a tight time frame will be difficult, says Gauri Bahadur Karki (kp 13/03/2024)

Politics of pardon : Arbitrary pardons and commutation of jail terms are part of a long trend of criminalisation of Nepali politics (kp 11/03/2024)

Helvetas Nepal's InElam Project Transforms Dalit Women, by Keshab Poudel (ap 10/03/2024)

Dispute over secretary appointment divides Human Rights Commission : As an international team assesses commission's performance, calls grow for an executive decision to end the controversy, by Binod Ghimire (kp 10/03/2024)

SC concludes President’s amnesty for murder convict Regal contrary to Rule of Law (kh 10/03/2024)

Top court cautions executive against arbitrary pardons: Recommends assessing convict’s jail time, remorse and health status for presidential pardon eligibility, by Binod Ghimire (kp 09/03/2024)

Ending the Pandemic of Violence Against Women and Girls, by Deepanjali Shrestha (rep 09/03/2024)

Survivors Need Support To Fight For Justice, by Sanjita Timsina (rn 08/03/2024)

International Women’s Day: Implement laws meant to empower women, by Jivesh Jha (ae 08/03/2024)

Report shows Nepal ahead in closing gender gap. Ground reality is different : Men benefit from state subsidies, particularly those meant to help women become independent entrepreneurs, by Krishana Prasain (kp 08/03/2024)

Enhancing women ownership, by Sabika Shrestha (ae 08/03/2024)

International Women’s Day: Implement laws meant to empower women, by Jivesh Jha (ae 08/03/2024)

Rural women deprived of reproductive health rights : At recent health camps in Achham, fewer people chose permanent family planning. Patriarchal attitudes and preference for sons blamed as root causes, by Menuka Dhungana (kp 08/03/2024)

Breaking barriers for women in foreign policy : With equal opportunities, meritorious women can contribute to IR with their intellectual insights, by Shradha Arjyal Joshi (kp 08/03/2024)

Structural Inequalities: Root Of Unjust World, by Namrata Sharma (rn 08/03/2024)

How are different social groups faring? There is a need for disaggregated data by social groups to understand it, by Deepak Thapa (kp 07/03/2024)

Ground firm for transitional justice bill’s passage: Leaders : The change in government coalition will not impact the legislative function, House committee chair says, by Binod Ghimire (kp 07/03/2024)

Usury victim continue their protest for justice on Thursday (kh 07/03/2024)

Rights groups urge Nepal to revise transitional justice law for accountability (rep 06/03/2024)

Solidarity Must To End Women’s Exploitation, by Namrata Sharma (rn 06/03/2024)

Prisoners, migrant populations and slums dwellers more vulnerable to TB : Most prisons in Nepal are overcrowded and hold inmates more than twice their capacity (kp 06/03/2024)

Caste discrimination in online spaces : Technological advances have complicated the problems of the caste victims, by Mitra Pariyar (kp05/03/2024)

The right to be forgotten : As vast amounts of data are collected online, this right lets individuals curate their digital identities, by Sunu Rijal (kp 05/03/2024)

Caste-based discrimination: A call for equality and change, by Prabin Kumar Yadav (ae 04/03/2024)

Balendra Shah treading authoritarian path, say rights activists : They are ‘troubled’ by City police’s use of force on Wednesday against street vendors (kp 04/03/2024), We need a national outlook to solve the problem of street vendors : There is a fundamental question: Why can’t we accommodate human beings while we are ready to accommodate vehicles?, interview with Mahendra Subba (kp 04/03/2024), Rights defenders ask Kathmandu Mayor to respect the human rights of street vendors : ‘Focus your attention towards rerouting yourself towards a path of establishing yourself as a democratic leader who operates under the rule of law.’ (nlt 04/03/2024)

Judiciary and Mental Health, by Diwakar Dhakal (kh 02/03/2024)

Child malnutrition soars in Karnali, Sudurpaschim amid disasters : The vulnerable are the most affected. Despite the two provinces spending Rs112.8 million annually on nutrition, progress is limited, by Basant Pratap Singh (kp 02/03/2024)

Over 30,000  quake survivors in Rukum West receive first installment (rep 02/03/2024) [That's what you call quick, when the PM had promised immediate help only four months ago!]

Can there be peace, love and harmony between the couples? Intimate partner violence has taken a toll on many families in Nepal. Here is a story of how positive interventions can change the situation (nlt 01/03/2024)

Whose metropolis? The gentrified Kathmandu of Balen’s imagination, we are afraid, will be a city without a soul (kp 01/03/2024)

Online violence escalates due to lack of proper legislation, by Bhasa Sharma (rep 01/03/2024)

Inmates at central jail now covered by health insurance (kh 29/02/2024)

No point pretending : The state seeing loan shark victims in Parliament premises as a security issue should fool nobody (kp 29/02/2024)

Of plebeians, plutocrats and populists : There are laws in place that proscribe usury, but their enforcement is fraught with institutional hurdles, by CK Lal (kp 28/02/2024)

Police implement ban on pedestrian activity along footpaths around Singha Durbar (rep 27/02/2024) [????], ‘Lawmakers themselves escorted microfinance victims into parliament due to political maneuvering’, by Tapendra Karki (rep 27/02/2024), Debtors storm through parliament gate, 50 held (ae 27/02/2024), Weeklong detention for protesters of loan sharking and microfinance exploitation (kh 27/02/2024) [The behaviour of these desperate people may be unlawful, but the reaction of the obviously disinterested state seems excessive!

With no post-quake assessment, Jajarkot victims risk neglect : Four months since the quake, damage assessment is yet to start. Government says priority now is temporary shelters, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 27/02/2024) [Hollow promises, followed by denial of assitance!], Damaging delay : The failure to carry out a detailed damage assessment after the Jajarkot earthquake has caused great hardship (kp 28/02/2024)

Police implement ban on pedestrian activity along footpaths around Singha Durbar (rep 27/02/2024) [????], ‘Lawmakers themselves escorted microfinance victims into parliament due to political maneuvering’, by Tapendra Karki (rep 27/02/2024)

Authorities prepare to relocate loan shark victims from Bhrikutimandap (rep 26/02/2024) [The politicians want to spare themselves the sight of the suffering people whose concerns they should actually be taking care of!], Govt’s bid to evacuate Bhrikutimandap disrupts loan sharking victims’ talks (kh 26/02/2024), 49 protesters arrested for breaching prohibitory orders and entering restricted area in Baneshwor (rep 26/02/2024), Loan sharking and microfinance victims protest inside parliament premises (kh 26/02/2024)

Misinformation posing a growing threat to democracy, by Nishu Ratna Bastakoti (rep 25/02/2024)

House committee likely to decide on transitional justice bill within a week : The committee is likely to advance the bill with a vote as chances of a consensus look slim (kp 25/02/2024)

International Tribunal on Evictions calls for action as forced evictions continue despite constitutional protections, by Aesha Bajracharya (rep 25/02/2024)

NC and Sanaatan State: Myth or Reality, by Chhering Yonzon (rep 23/02/2024) [The number of NC politicians advocating a return to the Hindu state during the Mahasamiti seems disproportionately high. This is due to the fact that at the upper levels of the NC, similar to the other parties, there are predominantly (male) Khas Arya, who simply do not want to understand the multi-ethnicity of Nepal and the centuries-long discrimination of non-Khas Arya under the Hindu monarchy!]

Loan sharking victims demand DPM Shrestha’s resignation (kh 23/02/2024), Don’t ignore loan shark victims (ae 23/02/2024)

Shunned and silenced : The long struggle of the women who were sexually assaulted or raped during the conflict period continues (kp 21/02/2024)

Nepal delays reply to UN concerns over transitional justice : Four UN special rapporteurs had given Nepal 60 days, until February 15, but officials say they need more time, by Binod Ghimire (kp 21/02/2024)

Incidents of violence against women on the rise: INSEC (rep 20/02/2024), Cases of human rights violations surged by 27 percent in 2023. Involvement of government bodies in human right violations in notable number of cases (rep 20/02/2024)

Urban poverty is on the rise, while rural poverty keeps falling : Experts call for creation of more jobs in order to address the livelihood issues of the urban poor, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 20/02/2024)

Conflict-era rape victims’ trauma compounds : Records at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission show that among the 63,700 cases it received, 314 are related to rape or sexual violence from the insurgency, by Binod Ghimire (kp 19/02/2024)

Various groups organize protest at Maitighar demanding justice for Ajit Mizar (In Pictures) (rep 19/02/2024)

Air pollution responsible for premature births, low weight : Neonatal deaths have not declined in the past five years, according to a study, by Arjun Poudel (kp 19/02/2024)

Nepal’s health sector under the budget knife : Experts warn budget cuts could undo the progress the country has made in the health sector over the past several years, by Arjun Poudel (kp 19/02/2024)

Cold tarps are forcing families back to damaged homes : A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan on November 3 killing scores and damaging around 8,000 public and private houses, by Biplab Maharjan (kp 19/02/2024)

DAO Kathmandu extends prohibited zone duration for two more months (kh 17/02/2024)

Love, a ‘deadly trap’ for Dalits!, by Pabitra Sunar (rep 17/02/2024)

‘50% children with cancer are out of medical services’ (kh 16/02/2024)

Over 26,700 temporary shelters constructed for earthquake Survivors in Rukum Paschim (kh 16/02/2024) [Within almost for winter months!!??]

Congress group aims to put Hindu state on party meet agenda : While proponents say the party should listen to people’s voices, others dismiss the agenda as a non-starter (kp 15/02/2024) [Those who advocate a return to a Hindu state ignore the multi-ethnicity and the multi-cultural and multi-religious character of Nepalese society. Such people oppose social inclusion and are therefore anti-democrats. Political parties that advocate such policies should be ignored! They only stand for the preservation of power and privileges of a predominantly male small elite!], Clamour for Hindu state : A political ideology that favours nativism and monoculturalism has no place in a democracy (kp 16/02/2024), NC leaders, including 22 central members, to announce Special Campaign for Sanatan Hindu State today (kh 17/02/2024) [To identify the state and the nation with a single culture and religion is a crime against the multi-ethnic and multi-religious society of Nepal! The country is not the property of predominantly male high caste Hindus, even though they have pretended to be for centuries!]

Old story, new twist : The saga of Nepali youth dying in senseless foreign wars like the one in Ukraine should stop (kp 15/02/2024)

Navigating Tradition and Progress: Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in Nepal, by Mona Sharma and Dikshya Aryal (rep 14/02/2024), LGBTIQA+ community: A continuing struggle for social acceptance, by Mitali Bharadwaj (ae 14/02/2024)

Death toll from People’s War waged by the Maoists stands at 18,076: New data (rep 14/02/2024)

Nepal police arrests 89 individuals on human trafficking charges in six months (kh 14/02/2024)

Promote Human Rights And Inclusion, by Namrata Sharma (rn 14/02/2024)

‘Another world is possible’: Socialists of the world to convene in Kathmandu this week : People involved in socialist movements from 92 countries will take part in the five-day World Social Forum-2024 (kp 14/02/2024)

Nepali women face harsh realities of foreign employment in Gulf countries, by Sabita Khadka (rep 12/02/2024)

Court sentences rape convict to 18 years in jail in Tanahu (kh 12/02/2024)

Alternative sentencing in Nepal, by Pradikshya KC (ae 12/02/2024)

Alliance plans to push TJ bill via vote if no consensus : Multiple attempts to build consensus have failed as ruling and opposition parties refuse to budge from their stands (kp 12/02/2024)

Street vendors stage protests against KMC  (rep 11/02/2024)

Bringing more women into science : Female scientists can now pursue their careers, but their role as caregivers represents a double burden, by Mamata Aryal (kp 09/02/2024)

Susta rural municipality launches monetary scheme to discourage child marriage (kh 09/02/2024) [The reasons lie in the extremely patriarchal way of thinking, its reflection in politics and laws, the permanent non-inclusion of women and archaic cultural practices in society. They cannot be solved with money!]

Prime Minister Dahal says he favours publicising Lal Commission report : Promises to call a meeting of the ruling alliance to decide the matter (kp 09/02/2024)

Nepal's peace dilemma : The failure to conclude the transitional justice process undercuts the achievements in the structural transformation of Nepal, by Khim Lal Devkota (kp 07/02/2024)

Social Movement Calls For Just Global Order, by Namrata Sharma (rn 07/02/2024)

Schoolgirls come together to combat outdated pratices : Young girls rally against social ills, urging female relatives to shun harmful traditions like Chhaupadi, child marriage and caste-based discrimination, by Tularam Pandey and DB Budha (kp 07/02/2024)

FNJ calls for media-friendly bill (kh 07/02/2024)

Reform in reservation is necessary, by Ritesh Panthee (rep 06/02/2024)

Proposal to prevent child marriage (ae 06/02/2024)

Will TRC Bill Be Endorsed ?, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn 06/02/2024) [Quite unlikely! If it does, the result will still be unsatisfactory for the victims. Potential offenders should not decide on such laws!]

Quake-displaced people battle inclement weather : Around 34,000 earthquake-displaced people are living under tents in Jajarkot and Rukum West, according to government data, by Mahersh KC (kp 04/02/2024)

Is Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission really weak? What can be done to make it more functioning and relevant? When human rights violations occur and the citizenry expect a prompt and swift intervention, the Commission’s “grand” mandate and mission often crumble to pieces, by Shrawan Adhikari and Simone Galimberti (nlt 04/02/2024)

Jaleswar Jail jam-packed with prisoners (kh 04/02/2024)

Salyan and Surkhet report highest number of rape cases among 10 Karnali districts : In most rape cases, the perpetrators of the crime are usually the victims’ family members, according to police, by Biplab Maharjan (kp 03/02/2024)

Dahal, Oli discuss ways to resolve transitional justice disputes : The opposition leader says the bill to amend the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act should be finalised in consensus after some revisions (kp 03/02/2024) [Both are not really interested in justice for the victims.]

Insurgency victims come up with 27-point demand : Want extrajudicial killings and unlawful killings listed as serious human rights violations and the authority to reduce penalties resting with judiciary, by Binod Ghimire (kp 01/02/2024)

Break the cycle : Most loan shark victims will continue to be denied justice unless the local bodies become more active (kp 01/02/2024)

Disabled students of a Baglung school face uncertain future after grade 8 : Many students of Ramrekha Basic School in Baglung may have to discontinue education after passing grade 8 because there are no other disabled-friendly schools nearby, by Prakash Baral (kp 01/02/2024)

Constitutional watchdog names 60 persons implicated in serious human rights abuses : Those incriminated include top police and government officials, and politicians, by Binod Ghimire (kp 31/01/2024), NHRC Report Card: Action recommended against 66 right violators (ae 01/02/2024)