Experts concerned over use of children in election campaigning

KATHMANDU: Stakeholders working in child rights, safeguarding, and protection have emphasized the need for collective action to identify, prevent, and respond to emerging risks faced by children, particularly in digital spaces and during election periods.

The call was made during a discussion held in Kathmandu to share findings from a monitoring report prepared by the Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP) National Campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Tilottam Paudel, president of CZOP, said the campaign recorded over 286 incidents of child rights violations during the House of Representatives elections held on March 5. He added that some incidents concerning the misuse of children were reported even after the election.

“Children were mobilized to create and share digital content in favor of some political parties. They were also found carrying party flags and symbols, participating in rallies, chanting slogans, and distributing promotional materials,” Paudel said.

Similarly, Durga Prasad Chalise, undersecretary at the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, emphasised the need for stronger safeguarding measures to prevent exploitation of children in the digital sphere.
Khimananda Basyal from the National Human Rights Commission said the human rights watchdog had also received reports on the misuse of children during the elections. “Preventing such practices should be a shared responsibility of the government, civil society, and other stakeholders,” he added.

Shree Adhikari, project coordinator at the National Child Rights Council, called for strict enforcement of policies concerning the misuse of children. “There should be a zero tolerance policy towards the exploitation of children in any election-related activities,” he added.

Likewise, Siromani Dhungana, director at the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB) Nepal, said political parties are strictly prohibited from involving children in election campaigns. He also highlighted the critical role of the media in monitoring, reporting, and preventing the misuse of children in both digital platforms and other election-related activities.