Ensure child rights in new constitution, Satyarthi requests Nepal

Kailash Satyarthi requested Nepal's lawmakers to include child rights in the country's new constitution. He stated the new constitution should be child-friendly and should incorporate universal values like love, freedom and equality.

This year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Sunday requested Nepal's lawmakers to include child rights in the country's new constitution.

"I hope democratic principles which include rights of every child in Nepal are incorporated in the country's new constitution," he told journalists before concluding his three-day visit to Nepal.

Satyarthi stated that the new constitution should be child-friendly and should incorporate universal values like love, freedom, equality, human rights and justice for all.

He added the new statute should be progressive and inclusive to ensure strengthening of democracy, and peace and stability in the Himalayan nation beset with strife and poverty.

Nepal is in the process of drafting a new constitution. The self-imposed deadline to complete the task ends on January 22.

Satyarthi landed in Kathmandu on Friday morning, his first visit to any foreign country after receiving the award earlier this month along with Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai.

"I got nearly 10,000 invitations after I received the prize, but I decided that I will visit my brothers, sisters, sons and daughters in Nepal first after returning to Delhi," he said while addressing a function.

Satyarthi's organization 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' is responsible for rescuing hundreds of Nepali children who had been abducted or sold illegally from various parts of India and reuniting them with their families.

The Nobel laureate addressed Nepal's lawmakers and also met president Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other political leaders during his visit.