Human Rights Day
By
Nepali Patro
Every year on December 10th, we observe Human Rights Day. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) might seem far and abstract, to the citizens of Nepal its principles are the basics that determine quality of life, dignity and security for millions of people.
In Nepal, defending human rights means focusing on three critical, immediate challenges:
Ending Discrimination
Our Constitution guarantees the Right against Untouchability and Discrimination. Yet, for many in the marginalized community, this right is violated regularly. Dignity is not a privilege; it’s the essential freedom to participate in society without any prejudice. When caste-based discrimination is tolerated, the core promise of equality in our country is broken.
Increasing Accountability
The foundation of a stable nation is built on the belief that justice is accessible to all. For thousands of Nepali families impacted by the conflict era, the essential right is the Right to Truth and Remedy. The Right to Truth and Remedy are core principles of international human rights law that bind states to address and correct horrendous human rights violations. Impunity for serious crimes like torture and extrajudicial killings creates a dangerous precedent. Until there is genuine progress on transitional justice, the wounds of the past remain open, and the integrity of our legal system is compromised.
Bridging the Economic Divide
Human rights include the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living. In the context of Nepal, this means urgent action on socio-economic differences. Ensuring that every citizen has access to clean water, basic healthcare, and free, compulsory education is not just a development goal. It is a constitutional mandate required to lift families out of generational poverty and fulfill the fundamental rights of life and opportunity.
The UDHR is not a foreign concept; it is the blueprint for the very society everyone around the world has fought for. Defending human rights means challenging impunity, speaking out against discrimination, and holding our institutions accountable.
