Nepal rights body probes party over underage members

Nepal's National Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) following reports that it enrolled minors as party members. The constitutional watchdog has formally requested the party to clarify whether it inducted individuals under the age of 18.

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If, as indicated in the report presented at the party’s general convention, memberships were indeed issued to children under 18, such an act would be contrary to Nepal’s prevailing laws and the country’s international commitments.

The controversy erupted after the RSP's organizational report, presented during its general convention on June 23, stated that 35,257 of its 523,465 members were below 18. This revelation sparked strong criticism from various child rights organizations and prompted lawmakers to raise the issue in Parliament.

Shyam Babu Kafle, assistant spokesperson for the commission, issued a statement noting the seriousness of the report. "If, as indicated in the report presented at the party’s general convention, memberships were indeed issued to children under 18, such an act would be contrary to Nepal’s prevailing laws and the country’s international commitments," the statement read. The commission has requested detailed information from the party regarding these memberships.

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The party remains fully committed to the Constitution of Nepal, the Political Parties Act, prevailing laws, and Nepal’s international treaty obligations regarding children’s rights and the principle of keeping children free from political activities.

The RSP has responded by calling the figures an error. General Secretary Bipin Acharya stated that the numbers presented were from a preliminary analysis of data within the party's digital membership application system and did not represent verified records. "Since applicants enter their personal details themselves, some applications contain errors," Acharya explained, citing potential confusion between calendar systems and typographical mistakes. The party reiterated its commitment to Nepal's Constitution, laws, and international obligations concerning children's rights.

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Since applicants enter their personal details themselves, some applications contain errors. These included confusion between the Bikram Sambat and Gregorian calendar systems, typographical mistakes i