To
The Office of the Speaker
House of Representatives, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Dr. Sandesh Lamsal Foundation is deeply concerned about and shocked by the credible report of the involvement of school-age children in the protests for Sukumbasi and for alleged fake squatters by the Shram Sanskriti Party. Children as young as primary school have been seen being brought to political meetings and demonstrations in recent complaints, viral videos and eyewitness accounts. This is not an exception, as such incidents were seen during the party's election campaign in January 2026, when the Dharan Municipal Child Network filed formal complaints with the Election Commission and police.

Child exploitation can also be regarded when the innocent young children's photos are being used for political propaganda. The Member of Parliament Harka Sampang and his allies have posted pictures of the Honourable Prime Minister of Nepal, Balendra Shah's minor daughter, juxtaposed with images of protests to attack the government. The use of a child's image for partisan attacks is an affront to her right to privacy, her dignity, and to be protected from political exploitation.

This is in disregard of basic national and international laws. The constitution of Nepal ensures the right to education and protection from exploitation for every child. The Children's Act 2075 explicitly prohibits children's participation in political activities. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), of which Nepal is a member, expressly states that, internationally:

• ❖ Article 3 requires that the best interests of the child be the primary consideration in any event.
• ❖ Article 28 guarantees the right to education, while involving children in protests deprives them of schooling and normal development.
• ❖ Article 32 protects children from economic and other exploitation that interferes with education or harms their health, mental, or social development.
• ❖ Article 36 demands protection from all other forms of exploitation prejudicial to the child’s welfare, including exploitation for political activities (as clarified in UNICEF summaries and the joint OHCHR-UNICEF Position Paper on Children in Political Activities).

Attending protests is a threat to children's physical safety, can cause psychological harm and infringes their right to peaceful assembly without adults' manipulation. OHCHR and UNICEF have issued joint guidelines for Nepal, which clearly state that political parties should not recruit, transport or encourage children to participate in rallies, demonstrations and campaign events.

The effects are significant and immediate. Children miss school, experience police violence or harassment at protests, are at risk of long-term trauma and lose the “protected childhood” that is provided by the law. It does not constitute participation; it is exploitation, which threatens the very principles of child rights and democracy.

Mr. Harka Sampang is a sitting or elected Member of Parliament and chairperson of the national political party, and thus has increased responsibility. The Foundation calls for an independent investigation by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens into the matter immediately. Wherever violations are confirmed, robust legal action must take place, with fines, party sanctions and, in light of the repeated allegations made, re-thinking of the revocation of his parliamentary status.

There are clear examples from all over the world. In various democracies, politicians who used children as props or campaign tools have been disqualified, removed from office and/or formally sanctioned under election and child protection legislation. Nepal has the same responsibility to ensure accountability.

The Dr. Sandesh Lamsal Foundation urges the Government to take a bold step now to save Nepal's children and regain the trust of the people in the Governmental institutions. We are prepared to be used as evidence and will assist any official enquiry.

Ganesh Lamsal
(Chairperson)