Bikalpa an Alternative organized a Monthly Meeting discussion Program on 18th March 2023 at Hotel Shree Krishna. The theme of the discussion was on understanding Human Rights issues”. The program aimed to bring together all the Bikalpa Fellowship Members to understand the fundamental Human Right.
The initial session was initiated with a welcome address by Mr Suman Rai, Program Coordinator of Bikalpa an Alternative, with an introduction to Guest Speaker Mr. Somraj Thapa Regional Coordinator of Insec . He began his speech by talking about Human rights are fundamental rights that every person is entitled to under being human. Human Rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled, like civil and political rights, the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and speech, equality before the law, social, cultural, and economic rights, the right to food, the right to work, and the right to education. The promotion and protection of human rights are essential for building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
These rights are considered fundamental and essential for the dignity, well-being, and development of all individuals and communities, regardless of their race, gender, nationality, religion, or any other status. Human rights provide a framework for protecting individuals and groups from abuses of power and discrimination by governments, institutions, and other individuals or groups. They are also often enshrined in international law, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and are upheld and promoted by various organizations, governments, and individuals worldwide.
He quoted As per the provisions contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (passed by UN General Assembly on 10 Dec 1948), the Human Rights may be classified into five categories:
- Civil Rights: which include right to freedom of expression, freedom of movement, right to form an association, right to nationality and right to asylum.
- Political Rights: which include right to take part in the political process of the government and right to equal access to public office.
- Economic Rights: these include right to adequate standard of living, right to property, and right to rest and leisure, right to have social assistance.
- Social Rights include theright to education and the right to establish family.
- Cultural Rights: which include right to participation in the cultural life of community and right to protection of moral and material interest resulting from cultural and scientific development.
He also expressed his learning experience regarding his work on Human Rights. He said young people are indeed the future of any society, and it is crucial to equip them with knowledge and perspectives of Human Rights. Young people can claim their rights effectively when they are well-informed and engaged. They can also hold their elected representatives accountable by monitoring their actions and policies and advocating for change if necessary. He shared that we all should engage in advocacy activities to promote human rights and hold governments accountable for human rights violations.
During the discussion session, Participants also asked relevant questions regarding the topic. All the query answers were addressed in the program. The program concluded with a vote of thanks to all the Participants and Mr. Som Raj Thapa. 34 Participants attended the program.
