Domestic and international institutions are raised concerns over the use of children and schools in campaigns ahead of the federal and provincial elections.
Domestic and international institutions are raised concerns over the use of children and schools in campaigns ahead of the federal and provincial elections.
The code of conduct implemented by the Election Commission (EC) bars parties from using children and schools in poll campaigns.
On Saturday, the EC had sought clarification from Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev for using a school ground in Saptari.
According to EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal, a team of United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) had recently met EC officials and raised its concern over the possible use of children in poll campaigning. “They asked us to be stringent in implementing code of conduct barring the use of children in political campaign,” he said.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), however, said the use of children in poll campaigns was not as widespread as it was during the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in 2013.
“Nevertheless, we are concerned over the possible use of them in campaigns,” said Mohna Ansari, a member of the NHRC.
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