Study Finds 350 Cases of Child Rights Breaches in Nepal’s Recent Elections

A total of 350 cases of child rights violations were reported during and after the House of Representatives Elections 2026, according to a study by Children as Zone of Peace (CZOP) Nepal.

The report recorded 286 cases during the election and 19 after. Incidents included children being used in political campaigns, rallies, social media promotions, and election activities near schools.

Some children were also injured or killed during campaign times.

A four-year-old girl was killed after being hit by a motor vehicle at Mathiyatole in Ishnath Municipality-4, Rautahat. The incident took place on February 5.

Likewise, 15-year-old Asha Bhujel and eight-year-old Sushil Majhi were injured in an explosion of suspected object on March 3. The incident occurred in Mithila Municipality-9, Dhanusha.

Security forces entering schools with arms and using school buildings as polling centers were also cited. Around 9,450 of 10,967 polling stations were in schools.

The Election Commission fined the Shram Sanskriti Party and candidate Shakti Bahadur Basnet Rs 25,000 each for violations.

The report urged political parties, families, schools, and communities to protect child rights, avoid using children in elections, and maintain schools as politically neutral “Zones of Peace.”

The study was supported by 107 organizations and Save the Children provided technical support.