A prominent NGO in the country slammed a scathing open letter at the Shram Sanskriti Party, and its leader, Harka Sampang Rai, whose party is all-out for protest in favour of the Sukumbasi, questioning on what basis the party has been engaging school-aged children in the ongoing protest. The Dr. Sandesh Lamsal Foundation, which claims to be non-political and works in the fields of healthcare, education and child welfare, says these acts are flagrant and breaches of Nepal’s domestic law and international obligations. The letter calls for urgent action to stop the “political weaponisation of minors.”
In recent weeks, there have been fresh reports of children wearing their school uniforms at party-led rallies in Dharan and Jhapa. The foundations protest is coming in response. These demonstrations are against the governments move to remove illegal settlements. Images seen on social media include minors together with adult party banners, t-shirts, and chants. The foundation points to this as clear evidence of child rights exploitation, and also cited the previous complaint against the partys election activities formalised by Dharan Municipal Child Network in January 2026. Sampang, at the time, stated that it was not his intention to send children to join; they were accompanying their parents. Butthings have carried over into post-election uprisings, the foundation says.
Nepals laws are clear-cut. According to the Act Relating to Children, 2075 (2018), it is a clear prohibition for any person, organisation or body to directly or indirectly use children in a political context/agenda. According to Section 7(7), no child shall be recruited into armed groups or used for political purposes. Fines of up to Rs 50,000 and jail terms of up to one year will be imposed on violators, and a more severe penalty will be imposed on repeat offenders or those who incite others. Article 39 of the Constitution of Nepal emphasises that all children have the right to education and protection from exploitation or harm, and that they enjoy a dignified life.
Nepal has signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a treaty of the United Nations (UN) which is ratified globally. All actions must be on the childs behalf in their best interests, as set out in Article 3. The right of children to education is guaranteed under Article 28 – children should not be removed from school to protest. Article 32 protects against economic exploitation, and Article 36 protects children from “all other forms of exploitation prejudicial to any aspect of the childs welfare.” Children are never to be used as props and/or shields in other peopls political campaigns, as outlined in Save the Childrens Guidelines on Childrens Participation in Political Campaigns. Such engagement can causepsychological trauma, violence, exposure to crowd-control gas and violence, as well as an extended disruption of a childs schooling, culminating in dropout rates and reduction in life opportunities.
The impact goes far beyond any individual children. By withdrawing them from school, their right to develop themselves is denied. If a child must be forced to take part in exploitation, then the exploitation is normalised, the public loses its confidence in the political system and an acceptance that the future of children is disposable for short- term gain is communicated to society. This child protection failure, which took place once again, is inexcusable in a nation still keenly aware of the trauma that was inflicted
on children last year as part of the Gen Z protests.
Harka Sampang, as Chairperson of a national party and a sitting Member of Parliament, must be a prime bearer of responsibility. The interviews featuring Harka Sampangs are being played to the children in schools. Recently, such a video of the Gyan Niketan English School, which went viral on social media, has raised a serious question. The foundation rightly pleads with the MOCSEC to conduct its own prompt investigation. The law must be enforced immediately, for example, by a fine, prosecution under the Childrens Act, and by limitation on the partys protest activities involving minors. Reconsideration of Sampang’s parliamentary position should be placed on the table if he is found guilty of these misdeeds again. Nepals Constitution and parliamentary ethics require that MPs act with integrity and honour – this is never acceptable to MPswho have taken an oath to serve their country.
There are global precedents to follow. European countries, such as those that have rigid child protection codes, have had politicians fined, ridiculed, and even faced the possibility of disqualification, where its believed that exploitation has occurred in political rallies and campaigns. Sanctions against candidates and parties to discourage such practice have been enforced by the election authorities. Nepal must take similar action.
The Dr. Sandesh Lamsal Foundations letter is more than just political grandstanding; its a moral and legal imperative. Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s own minor daughter’s image has reportedly been misused by the same group as propaganda, adding insult to injury. Enough is enough. The government, parliament, and the Election Commission must take swift action. Children should never be campaign fodder. Theyre the future! They must be protected, and it is the constitutional and international obligation of every
leader. If the action isn’t taken right now, the violations will only be incited more, and the democratic record of Nepal will be tainted. There can be no stronger and faster justice than this.
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