Nepal Human Rights Report Reveals Alarming Figures for 2023

The Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) of Nepal has released its Nepal Human Rights Year Book 2024, shedding light on the distressing reality of human rights violations and abuses in the country. The report, unveiled on Monday, unveils a troubling picture, with a total of 9,388 individuals identified as victims of such violations in 2023.

From December 17, 2079, to December 15, 2080, the INSEC report documents 988 cases of human rights violations, encompassing 146 women and 842 men. Shockingly, incidents of rape also saw a significant increase, with 7,716 women, 2 transgender individuals, and 682 men identified as victims.

Comparing to the previous year, the report indicates a concerning rise in human rights abuses, with 2,012 more cases reported in 2023 than in 2022. Among the recorded violations, 6 individuals lost their lives at the hands of state actors, while 2 were subjected to torture, and 240 were arrested.

The report also highlights instances of caste discrimination, with 62 individuals targeted based on their caste, along with 414 cases of physical assault and 31 instances of inhumane treatment. Furthermore, 505 individuals faced violations of their right to assemble and organize.

Perhaps most distressing are the revelations regarding custodial deaths, with 2 individuals dying in police custody and 51 losing their lives in prison. INSEC’s records indicate that 2 prisoners succumbed to torture and beatings in Sankhuwasabha prison.

Additionally, the report documents cases of enforced disappearances, with one person missing from the state side and 2 from other parties. A total of 323 deaths were recorded in 2023, with 6 attributed to state actors and 317 to other parties.

The distribution of fatalities across provinces reveals a grim reality, with significant numbers reported in various regions. For instance, the Koshi province witnessed 63 deaths, with 3 attributed to the state and 60 to other parties. Similarly, the Madhes province reported 125 deaths, while Bagmati, Lumbini, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces recorded 58, 55, 28, 38, and 16 deaths, respectively, all attributed to non-state actors.

The Nepal Human Rights Year Book 2024 serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in upholding human rights in the country and underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address these pressing issues.