28 May 2021, Janakpur: On 28 May 2021, a single bench of Justice Dal Kumar Khadka of the High Court, Janakpur issued an order to take due care and not to delay in the treatment of the COVID-19 infected patients. The Court ordered the Provincial Hospital to stop refusing patients from admitting and providing treatment citing false pretext of lack of oxygen, PPE, masks and medicines and referring them to the private hospitals. The Court also asked the hospital to submit it the reports of beds details, doctors, health worker allotted for the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients along with the daily list of patients admitted and discharged after recovery every week.

May 28, 2021, Nepalgunj: Advocacy Forum Nepal’s Advocate Basanta Gautam monitored some of the detention centers from the Human Rights perspective in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of the monitoring was to find out the condition of the detainees and their overall human rights status. Area Police Office (APO) Dhaunauli, APO Jamunaha, APO Kohalpur, District Police Office (DPO), and the Prison of Banke were monitored via media reports and telephone inquiries The information was collected from May 24 to 26, 2021.

25 May 2021, Nepalgunj: With the increase of COVID-19 cases and subsequent lockdown, the children at the Correction Homes are at more risk than ever. AF has been regularly monitoring the situation of children at the Correction Homes all over the country. In regard to this, on 24 May 2021, AF lawyer Basanta Gautam held a conversation with Bimala Kaucha Magar, the in-charge of Child Correction Home of Aasmanpur, Banke over the phone to collect information about the CCH and the situation of children during the pandemic. Magar informed that currently there are 148 children in the Correction Home which is almost double of its capacity. For their safety, physical visits are prohibited as of now and PCR tests are conducted before detaining and registering any new juveniles.

19 May 2021, Nepalgunj: AF’s lawyer Basanta Gautam along with Mr. Dhirjung Shah, the head of Public Health Office, Banke monitored the Isolation Centers and Temporary COVID Hospitals established by Khajura Rural Municipality and Baijnath Rural Municipality of Banke District on 18 May 2021.

13 May 2021. Banke: As a result of untiring intervention from Advocacy Forum-Nepal’s lawyer along with other human rights lawyers, District COVID-19 Crisis Management Operation Centre under District Administration Office (DAO) formed a monitoring committee in line with the Court’s order of 30 April 2021.

12 May 2021, Butwal: With infected cases of coronavirus increasing at an alarming rate, the health care center, hospitals of the country are on the brink of collapse. Lumbini Province, which hosts the second-highest number of active cases after Bagmati Province-the worst-hit state, is struggling to meet the oxygen demand. Hospitals such as Corona Special Hospital, Beljhundi, Dang, Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Bhim Hospital, Bhairahawa are turning away critical patients infected with the virus for lack of available beds and sufficient oxygen supplies.

9 May 2021, Banke: On 9 May 2021, Advocacy Forum-Nepal, Banke together with other human rights lawyers submitted a memorandum to the District Administration Office (Banke), the District Crisis Management Committee, District COVID-19 Crisis Management Operation Centre requesting the implementation of the Court’s order. Earlier on 30 April 2021 Tulsipur High Court, Nepalgunj Bench issued a 14-point interim order instructing the District Administration Office, Banke including others to prioritize the protection of people’s right to life, along with the adoption of effective measures for the prevention, control of the ongoing health crisis in Banke resulted from the contagious variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Further, on 2 May 2021, the Court wrote to the District Administration Office, Banke to submit a written response clarifying the progress and efforts undertaken for the implementation of the order. 

30 April 2021, Banke: As the country grapples to contain the second wave of the coronavirus, Banke District has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases triggered by the new strains of the virus that is said to be more contagious than the earlier variant. With the District recording the massive surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities every day, Advocacy Forum-Nepal’s lawyer together with other human rights lawyers brought a public interest litigation writ before the Tulsipur High Court, Nepalgunj Bench demanding an interim order along with any appropriate order to adopt effective measures to protect people’s right to live with dignity, right to quality health services as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal.

Rupandehi, 16 March 2021: A Health Camp was organized for the juveniles of Rupandehi Child Correction Home (CCH) on 5th and 6th March 2021 in Advocacy Forum's initiation and coordination with Nepal Child Welfare Association, Siddarthanagar Municipality and Rotary Club of Central Lumbini. During AF's monitoring visit to the Child Correction Home in Rupandehi on February 27, 2021, AF lawyers found that the children kept there needed immediate medical supports. Altogether 142 juveniles were benefitted from this health camp which was organized at CCH’s premises.

A Nepali mother displays courage and persistence in finding truth and justice for her child

It has been nearly two years since I last visited Nepal, one of the countries of the Himalayas, where Buddha, a preacher of peace and non-violence, was born.