#news #Nepal #citizenship #amendment
The Chairperson of the Development, Economic Affairs, and Good Governance Committee under the National Assembly, Kamala Pant, has highlighted the issue of granting citizenship to children based on their mother’s name in the constitution and laws. Despite the directive to open the path for granting citizenship to children through their mother’s name, it has been reported that the implementation has faced obstacles.
In celebration of the 115th International Women’s Day, a dialogue on “Women’s Rights: Human Rights, Context: Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill 2081” was organized on Friday by the Human Rights and Peace Society. Pant mentioned that even after the amendments in 2046 and 2062/2063, the public’s desire to eliminate gender discrimination between men and women has not been effectively implemented.
Member of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center), Rupa Chaudhary, expressed her struggle in amending the Citizenship Act, citing difficulties in addressing the constitutional provisions. She emphasized the necessity to amend the constitutional provisions related to citizenship before amending the Citizenship Act.
Sociologist Nirmala Dhakal emphasized considering the societal perspective while discussing amendments to the Citizenship Act. Former President of the Society Homkant Chaulagain mentioned the provision in Article 11 (k) of the constitution, which states that citizenship should be granted based on the mother’s name.
Furthermore, Advocate Shashi Basnet suggested moving forward by granting citizenship based on the mother’s name through a constitutional amendment. During the program, President of the Society Renuka Poudel stressed the importance of consistently conducting such civic dialogues to reach meaningful conclusions.
Former President Ramkrishna Baral, founder Rameshwari Pant, journalists Vinu Suvedi and Deepa Dahal, Bagmati Province Secretary Divakar Pudasaini, central member Rupa Pudasaini, and Namrata Kharel, among others, emphasized the need to easily grant citizenship to children through their mother’s name when passing the second amendment bill to the Citizenship Act.
Ramesh Khatri, as a representative of Kansai Nepal News, believes that addressing the issue of citizenship based on the mother’s name is crucial for ensuring gender equality and upholding the rights of all individuals in Nepal.
—
Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: March 8, 2025 3:02 am
