Protection of human rights is everyone’s responsibility: CM Shahi

SURKHET: Karnali State’s chief minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi has said that it is the responsibility of all to protect and promote human rights.

Addressing an interaction programme on the theme ‘Human Rights Situation in Karnali’ organized by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Surkhet today, he stressed that human rights can be preserved if every citizen along with the state bodies fulfilled their responsibilities in an honest manner.

Chief Minister Shahi also stressed taking into consideration whether others’ rights are violated while exercising own rights. Stating that the rights of the citizen are guaranteed by the constitution, he called upon the state, the private sector, civil society and all the citizens to contribute from their respective places for their fulfilment.

“Who is going to preserve the human rights when the traders are involved in black marketeering and hoarding, the law professionals not going to advocate for the poor without fees and the students start thrashing the police taking the law into their hands,” the Chief Minister wondered, pointing out to the tendency of taking the law in own hands to get their demands fulfilled.

He said human rights are better protected when all citizens and the state bodies fulfil their duties and responsibilities instead of only questioning the state.

Karnali State Chief Attorney Dhruba Kumar Shrestha viewed that disease, hunger and poverty were the challenges in the protection of human rights in the State.

Surkhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Laxman Kandel expressed the commitment on behalf of the industry and business sector for the protection of consumer rights and human rights. He added that the Chamber has been carrying out various works under corporate social responsibility for the promotion of the rights of the extremely poor communities.

NHRC Under-Secretary Hari Gyawali shed light on the objectives of the interaction while NHRC researcher Prof Dr Govinda Subedi talked about the situation of the rights of the citizens of the Karnali and Sudurpaschim States.

NHRC has also brought into operation its Contact Office in Birendranagar from today.