Nepali government urged to expedite rehabilitation of freed bonded labor

The human rights organizations in Nepal on Sunday urged the government to expedite the rehabilitation of the freed Haliyas, victims of bonded labor in the mid and far-western region of the country.

In a joint press statement issued on Sunday, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, International Labor Organization and the National Dalit Commission of Nepal said that while commemorating the second anniversary of the Haliyas liberation, "we call on Nepali government to expedite the rehabilitation of the freed Haliyas."

"We note that the government's initiative to draft a law prohibiting the practice of bonded Haliyas and to undertake a survey of the freed Haliyas is crucial step towards their rehabilitation," stated in the joint statement.

"However, we are deeply concerned over the slow progress on the implementation of the five-points agreement signed two years ago including the annulment of debts, formation of a separate Haliya commission, and distribution of land to the freed Haliyas," it added.

The statement further wrote that the failure of the government to fulfill its commitment in a timely manner will put the freed Haliyas at risk of falling back into the vicious cycle of exploitation once again and further compound their misery also on account of their Dalit identity.

According to the release, findings of several missions conducted by organizations, confirm that the condition of the freed Haliyas is appalling with virtually no access to food, shelter, clothing, health and education. The Haliya women and children are among the most affected.

The statement said, "we urge the Nepali government to adopt adequate legislative and policy measures and ensure their effective implementation to achieve meaningful rehabilitation of the freed Haliyas, consistent with the Interim Constitution of Nepal, Nepal's treaty obligations as well as the Supreme Court ruling of October 2007."

Nepali government declared the official liberation of all Haliyas on Sept. 6, 2008. With the aim of ensuring a life with freedom and dignity for the Haliya community by freeing them from their centuries-long slavery, National Haliya Liberation Federation (NHLF) launched Haliya movement in Kathmandu on Sept. 28, 2008 in close coordination and collaboration with Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization.

Haliya is an agricultural bonded laborer who works on another person's land, and the literal meaning of Haliya is "one who ploughs". Haliyas can be found throughout Nepal, but the Haliya system in the far western hilly part of Nepal is considered a bonded labor system.

The NHLF of Nepal estimates that there are currently 150,000 bonded agricultural laborers in Nepal's far western region, and that only 450 Haliyas from the Dadeldhura district have been freed so far. Nepal has been a signatory to United Nations Slavery Convention since 1963, and has a duty to ensure that its citizens are free from bonded labor practices.

Source: Xinhua