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PPCC appeals to Election Commission not to use schools as polling stations during upcoming municipal elections 2062

Partnerships for Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (PPCC)

Partnerships for Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (PPCC), a network of national and international human rights and humanitarian organizations, has appealed to the Election Commission not to use schools during upcoming municipal elections 2062.

“Past experience shows that schools have been used as polling stations during elections. However, there has been growing international consensus that schools should be regarded as zones of peace and should be free from political activities,” wrote PPCC members in a letter dated 24 January, 2006 to the Chief Election Commissioner.

“In the context of ongoing armed conflict in the country and boycott of the elections by the rebel group and some political parties, there is a serious possibility of schools coming under attack if voting is conducted in school compounds. Such attacks on schools would seriously violate the right to education of untold numbers of children, threaten the security of students and teachers, cause physical damage to school infrastructures, and cause long term and harmful psychosocial impact on the students,” the letter continued.

The PPCC network urges the Government of Nepal to respect child rights and not disrupt educational activities by using schools as polling stations.

For further information please contact
Suman Khadka
Secretariat of Partnerships for Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (PPCC)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 4412598   Fax: 4410374   Email: skhadka@savechildren.org.np