Concerns Of Children Vision Nepal, Over Child Use in Political Campaigning

Kathmandu — Ramesh Silwal, Chairperson of Children Vision Nepal, has submitted separate memorandums to the Election Commission of Nepal, drawing attention to two serious trends observed during elections.

In the memorandum submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chairperson Silwal expressed deep concern over the growing practice of fundraising by making photos, personal bank details, and QR codes public through social media. 

He stated that although such activities carried out in the name of elections may appear to be digital modernity on the surface, they could be detrimental to democracy, political morality, and public trust in the long run.

The memorandum mentions that while politics should be based on service and sacrifice, it has recently become a medium for personal financial collection. It warns that without timely clear policies, rules, and monitoring mechanisms, money-oriented politics and digital misuse will increase. 

Chairperson Silwal urged the Election Commission to formulate clear standards regarding election campaigning, fundraising, and the publicizing of QR codes and bank details via social media, and to implement them strictly.

Similarly, Chairperson Silwal drew the serious attention of the Election Commission to the use of children in election campaigning. He expressed deep concern over incidents of involving children in rallies, forcing them to chant slogans, making them carry promotional materials, and using them in videos and social media content.

"Children are not tools for any party or political interest; they are the future of the nation," the memorandum states, adding that standing children in political crowds at an age when they should be playing and learning is not only a legal violation but also an assault on humanity.

Since the Constitution of Nepal, the Act Relating to Children, and international conventions on child rights clearly provide for protecting children from political misuse, the memorandum demands that the Election Commission maintain strict monitoring, issue clear directives, and take effective action to prevent such activities from recurring in a sensitive process like an election.

Chairperson Silwal mentioned that the Election Commission is not just a body for conducting elections but also a moral guardian of democracy. He expressed confidence that the Commission would play a leadership role in building healthy, transparent, and value-based politics through timely decisions and initiatives.