Kathmandu: Prime Minister Sushila Karki, addressing an event organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in commemoration of International Human Rights Day, has highlighted corruption as a significant impediment to development and transformation. She emphasized the detrimental impact of corruption on fundamental rights, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Prime Minister Karki stressed the importance of transparency and accountability as prerequisites for safeguarding human rights. She highlighted the necessity of conducting fair elections, asserting that it is the government’s primary responsibility to create an environment where citizens can elect their representatives without fear or undue influence. The Prime Minister promised to make the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections more cost-effective, transparent, and technologically driven, urging all political parties to collaborate to ensure timely elections.
Prime Minister Karki expressed her commitment to protecting voting rights and encouraging active participation from all political parties. She noted Nepal’s peace process as a source of international inspiration and recognized ongoing advancements in transitional justice. The government, she assured, prioritizes the autonomy, independence, and effectiveness of the National Human Rights Commission and is committed to implementing its recommendations.
Addressing climate change, PM Karki highlighted its impact on human rights, despite Nepal’s minimal carbon emissions. She linked climate change to challenges such as food security, health, and education, and emphasized the need for strengthening partnerships for sustainable development and climate justice. The government, she stated, is working towards poverty reduction, gender equality, social justice, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prime Minister Karki called for the fulfillment of international human rights obligations and the implementation of treaty recommendations. She prioritized the formulation of laws to protect human rights defenders and ensure safe and dignified foreign employment. The PM also stressed the importance of integrating human rights into daily life to achieve sustainable peace and development.
In her address, PM Karki recognized human rights as encompassing dignity, the right to question state decisions, environmental health, and digital access. She assured the government’s attention to youth-related issues, including digital rights and privacy. The PM acknowledged the broader contemporary definition of human rights and praised the younger generation’s engagement through social and digital platforms as a positive expression of democracy.
Concluding her speech, PM Karki extended greetings to Nepalis worldwide and reiterated the foundational role of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in shaping a human-oriented civilization. The Human Rights Day celebration in Nepal aligns with the global theme ‘Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials.’