The United Nations’ Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) are increasingly concerned about the use of children in demonstrations by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
It places them at risk of violence and exposes them to potentially dangerous situations.
There are alarming and confirmed reports of large numbers of children present in demonstrations and in some cases actively participating in the enforcement of the bandh.
UNICEF and OHCHR urge all parties to respect the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Nepal is a signatory, and to take all necessary measures to avoid exposing all boys and girls under the age of eighteen to risk of harm.
PÅMINDELSE OM REGLERNE
People under eighteen must not be forced, coerced or bribed into participating in political activities.
Children should not carry weapons that can inflict bodily harm under any circumstances.
ANGREB PÅ SKOLER
The forced closure of schools during bandhs is a violation of children’s rights to education.
There are incidents of schools being occupied and of classes being disrupted and exams prevented from taking place.
