Supreme Court orders a new law as Transitional Justice Act overlooks child soldiers’ issue

A full bench has asked the government to recognise the use of minors in armed conflict as a serious human rights violation, and ensure rehabilitation of former combatants.

The Supreme Court has directed the government to enact a law criminalising the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18 in armed forces and to classify such acts as serious human rights violations, saying Nepal’s transitional justice Act fails to adequately address the issue despite the country’s international obligations.