Human rights situation in Nepal further deteriorates: Amnesty International

KATHMANDU: Amnesty International has reported that the human rights situation in Nepal has further declined in 2024, mirroring a broader global regression in justice, equality, and dignity—values that took more than eight decades to establish.

In its global annual report, the organization stated that hard-won rights are increasingly under threat, and Nepal is no exception. Amnesty International Nepal’s Director, Nirajan Thapaliya, said during the report’s release that the Nepali government has itself become a suppressor of criticism by restricting peaceful protests, using unlawful force, and arbitrarily detaining demonstrators.

The report notes that the government has increasingly designated protest-restricted zones, making it difficult for citizens to exercise their right to peaceful assembly.

Furthermore, freedom of expression is under threat, with a rise in incidents of physical assault and intimidation of journalists. Amnesty emphasized that impunity continues to be a major concern, with little to no accountability for those responsible for human rights violations.

The organization also raised alarms over ongoing violence against women and children, noting that such cases remain rampant while justice remains elusive. Ethnic violence continues unchecked, and detainees’ rights are regularly violated, with poor detention conditions reported across facilities.

Victims of natural disasters, including floods and landslides, were also found to be deprived of even the most basic government relief, highlighting institutional negligence and inefficiency.