Appeal to Gvt of Nepal to respect Human Rights in COVID-19 fight
Bipin Budhathoki
The people of the I-Generation were born after 1990. It was the time when the growing of their childhood and Internet happened simultaneously. It provided greater access to the means of communications. Consequently, they became able to watch many Hollywood and Bollywood movies story based on the spread of virus and infections. At that point of time no one had imagined, they will be facing such epidemic in real life. Our biggest enemy has become very very small virus. Today the world is suffering from Coronavirus very badly which was beyond imagination of human beings.
The darkest hour of humanity is going on. The outbreak of COVID- 19 pandemic has threaten the existence of Human beings in an unbelievable way. The story of reel life has been transformed into real life now. The COVID-19 pandemic risk emerged all across the world has brought a big challenge to the future of human beings. The scientist are exploring medical science for vaccine to the fullest. The COVID- 19 is being as deadly as Spanish flu which was encountered 102 years ago. As per the data in the website of World Health Organization on 4th April, 2020, COVID-19 has already confirmed into 208 countries and territories with more than 51,737 deaths. There has been exponential increase in death rate. Lock-down has been a tool to control this painful scenario which the entire world is facing. Social distancing is working as antidote until vaccine is manufactured to protect against it. So, people are working from home. They are in holidays, quarantines and isolations too. The state should not neglect the fundamental rights of human beings in crisis too.
In each and every nook and corner of the world everyone is talking about corona virus. Globally, lockdowns is going on to minimize the transmission of infection. All the academic institutions, gym clubs, shopping malls, pubs and restaurants are closed. The means of transportation are entirely suspended. The social gathering also has been banned by the government. Police are patrolling in the streets. In this circumstances, the human rights impact of the pandemic should also be in consideration.
Government of Nepal had enforced lockdown since Chaitra 11, 2076 and still 3 days to go and it may extend. The boarders of Nepal has been sealed and all the domestic and international flights has been suspended. As we all know, Nepal has open boarder with India. Thousands of Nepalese are working there as a migrant workers. Mostly poor people from villages of Far western and Midwestern region of Nepal go to India in order to earn their daily bread. In this situation no one should be blocked in broader depriving from right to enter home land. It is the prime responsibility of the state to allow migrant workers to come back to home after necessary health checkup. The documented and undocumented migrant workers working in the Gulf, Malaysia and rest of the world should get their basic needs and it’s the obligation of state to protect the rights of migrant workers at any cost. They should not feel emotional isolation.
The lockdown has also affected with higher degree to daily wage earner, refugees, children, women, and elderly person, poor and marginalized people in the country. Slum and squatter settlements are at higher risk. Differently able people are also in great trouble. They are struggling in basic needs like fooding, housing. Neither they have adequate water supply and nor basic sanitation. They have poor access to health care. There should not be any discrimination in the treatment of the affected ones. It is the responsibility of state to protect and respect the rights of the citizens. At the time of crisis citizens may not have the privilege to exercise all the rights but the government should ensure the fundamental rights provisioned by the constitution. Article 36 of Constitution of Nepal guarantees every citizens have right relating to food as fundamental rights. The three tiers of government of Nepal should work in coordination with each other to protect the life of citizens by supplying sufficient food in this pandemic. Similarly, Article 37 of Constitution of Nepal guarantees right to adequate housing as a fundamental rights. As the government is appealing its citizens to stay safe at home, it is the responsibility of government to manage appropriate housing for maintaining social distance.
At the time of crisis government can take tough decisions to control the things. But, the ill treatment and torture by the police in the name of inspecting the lockdown should be controlled. The emergency power should not be misused. The leader of Nepal need to be very responsible to protect their citizens. It seems a huge trust deficit in Nepali political leaders. It is the time of mutual cooperation. They seems busy in crafting populist agenda in this deadly pandemic too. Rather Government should work to provide sufficient medical equipment, additional Doctors and Nurses, additional health workers. So that, enough testing can be done. Adequate infrastructures should be created to combat with the COVID-19. The health care system of Nepal is struggling. Political leaders need to stop the blame game and they should try to protect democratic values.
Budhathoki is Deputy General Secretary,Amnesty International Nepal Section
