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In a disturbing trend that sheds light on the vulnerability of adolescents in the digital age, a 15-year-old girl from the Pepsicola area in Kathmandu found herself trapped in a distressing web of online exploitation. The episode unfolded as she developed a connection with a young man from Udayapur district through Facebook.

What began as an innocent online interaction quickly morphed into a nightmarish ordeal when the man coerced her into sending explicit images under the threat of terminating their virtual relationship. This sinister manipulation escalated as he relentlessly pressured her to engage in physical relations against her will. To further deepen the young girl’s trauma, the man disseminated the compromising photos to her brother.

In a separate incident that starkly illustrates the extent of the issue, a seventh grader from a Gongabu-based school inadvertently fell victim to a similar exploitative scheme. She was talked into sending her private image to an eighth grader boy, with whom she was infatuated with, only to see it circulated widely on a Messenger group. Swift intervention ensued, involving close collaboration between Nepal Police’s Cyber Bureau and the school authorities, to contain the fallout of the breach of privacy.

These unsettling instances provide a grim snapshot of the escalating phenomenon of children ensnared by the clutches of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Children as young as 12 or 13 are increasingly embroiled in such harrowing activities. The Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police has alarmingly recorded 645 cases of children falling prey to online sexual violence between the fiscal years of 2018/19 and 2022/23. Young girls emerged as the predominant victims, suffering from harassment by counterparts of the opposite gender, exposure to explicit content and manipulation through fabricated social media profiles.

In a disheartening parallel, 145 young boys also bore the brunt of such insidious online practices. Within these troubling statistics, a staggering 142 children, a significant majority being girls, were found to be grappling with pornography addiction. Furthermore, 120 children, with a similar gender disparity, found themselves subjected to the scourge of sexual harassment.

“The surge in incidents involving youngsters in explicit behaviors is an alarming phenomenon. While it is natural for adolescents undergoing the tumultuous phase of puberty to exhibit curiosity towards sexual matters, the lack of proper guidance and parental supervision is rendering them increasingly susceptible to the lures of depravity,” says Deputy Superintendent of Police Dipesh Joshi of the Cyber Bureau.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navindra Aryal of the Cyber Bureau underlined the diverse spectrum of CSAM manifestations, encompassing not just the act of sexual engagement, but also consumption of explicit content, propagation of obscene conduct on digital platforms, grooming, engagement in virtual romance, surreptitious device usage, and the repugnant realms of blackmail and harassment.

“Sharing content that not only chronicles crimes against children but also disseminates crimes committed by them is an offense of grave magnitude,” says SSP Aryal.

The pervasive nature of this crisis also underlines a critical lack of parental oversight. Telltale signs of a child caught in the dark corridors of CSAM addiction include overt defiance of familial norms, attempts at premature independence, unexplained fits of rage, academic disengagement, and even overt resistance to attending school.

The law enforcement agencies are mobilizing resources to ascertain details of individuals consuming such egregious content, tracking their access patterns, identifying their internet service providers and initiating targeted interventions. A cyber tipline has been instituted as a proactive measure to thwart the propagation of such malevolent activities.

Cybersecurity expert Rajiv Subba says that CSAM addiction might disproportionately afflict children deeply immersed in the digital realm. “Social networks have become a veritable playground for children,” he says. “Tragically, we observe that some of them are resorting to explicit behavior as a means to garner likes and views on their social media exploits.”

Evidently, a moral crisis looms large over our society, with individuals readily compromising their principles for fleeting popularity in the virtual realm.

Subba emphasized the dire need for a more robust legal framework to tackle this insidious challenge. “Stricter regulation of social networks is an imperative. Particularly vulnerable are children hailing from fractured family structures, as they remain susceptible to the allurements propagated across digital channels.”

Psychologist Karuna Kunwar underlines the innate curiosity that typifies children, propelling them toward uncharted digital territories. She suggests open dialogues within educational institutions and families, encouraging a candid exploration of the physical and emotional changes intrinsic to adolescence. “Avoiding discussions on matters of sexuality while raising children is counterproductive. We must impart the understanding that these are natural facets of life,” she says.

In a pledge that resonates on the legislative front, the government is actively crafting a comprehensive cybercrime legislation. Netra Prasad Subedi, joint secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, says the ministry is erecting strong legal barricades against digital transgressions. 

“Enhancing cybersecurity measures and guaranteeing secure digital environments remain at the heart of our agenda,” he says.

But Subedi emphasizes the need for shared responsibility of parents and teachers to vigilantly monitor children's digital engagements, as well as fortify digital devices against breaches.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma agrees.

“A dual approach involving regulatory measures and individual self-regulation is imperative, given the escalating victimization of women and children,” she says.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is evident that parental vigilance and societal collaboration are vital bulwarks against the digital exploitation of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Children at risk of online sexual abuse, study finds

Children are increasingly at risk of online sexual abuse, a study has shown. The findings, unveiled during a program hosted by Bal Awaj, an organization headquartered in Lalitpur, revealed that children under the age of 18 are increasingly falling victim to online sexual abuse. The study, conducted among 514 children in the Koshi and Bagmati provinces, showed that both known individuals and strangers solicited obscene images from children online, later manipulating these images to tarnish their reputation.

Asking for obscene photos from children and sending insensitive messages among others by abusing the internet are acts of sexual misbehavior and abuse against children.
According to Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, online crimes possess the potential to impact children not only socially but also psychologically. He said earlier cases of sexual abuse against children were reported at physical level, but these days more children are prone to online sexual abuse. 

Pokharel called for raising awareness about the laws to protect children from abuses in all forms and noted that the findings of the study would be a ‘milestone’ for formulation of law regarding protection of children from cyber crimes. 

Chief District Officer of Lalitpur Rudra Prasad Pandit pointed out the distressing trend of an increasing number of children falling victim to sexual abuse facilitated by the internet. He urged for a mandatory provision, integrated into all mobile phones, that restricts access to websites featuring sexual content involving minors.

Senior Superintendent of Police Siddhi Bikram Shah lamented the challenges in taking swift action against culprits of online child sexual abuse due to limited resources. 

Gopal Krishna Ghimire, president of Nepal Bar Association, stressed the necessity of minimizing children’s exposure to laptops, mobile devices, and iPads, underscoring the importance of maintaining a safe digital environment for children.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal stood before the Parliament to answer a slew of questions from parliamentarians. 

The topics raised in the Q & A session included transitional justice, government action against corruption, good governance, farm reforms and education for all. 

In all, Dahal responded to more than a dozen questions coming from cross-party lawmakers. Out of them, we have selected top 10 questions and responses from PM Dahal.

Ek Nath Dhakal: Isn’t it your duty to meet Gangamaya Adhikari, who has been on a hunger strike for years seeking justice?

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been formed for the administration of transitional justice in order to deal judicially with the incidents during the conflict and the government is committed to the administration of transitional justice as soon as possible. Regarding Gangamaya Adhikari, under the prevailing legal system, the government is providing humanitarian services and protection to her. The government, to date, has provided Rs 3.74m for her treatment.

Asim Shah: The opening of corruption files was just to keep other parties in size. Is the stunt over now?

Good governance has been a priority since the formation of the government and because of that, we have succeeded in eradicating the hatred of the people toward the political system.

The public has also started to believe that our good governance was possible because of the unbiased investigations. No guilty should escape and no innocent should suffer. Not only my party members but even if the prime minister is found guilty in the investigation, there is no need to leave him out of the radar. All those involved in corruption will be prosecuted on the basis of facts and evidence.

Rishikesh Pokharel: The progress status of most of the national pride projects is worrisome...

I am regularly taking progress reports of national pride projects. Necessary budget has also been allocated for the timely completion of these projects. Two of the national pride projects have been completed and the work progress of 14 has reached 80 percent. The progress of five projects is 50 to 80 percent and the progress of two projects is 50 percent. The government is making efforts to complete these projects as soon as possible.

Ishwari Devi Neupane: Will your speech about turning Nepal to a caste state help in establishing social harmony?

The expressions that disrupt social harmony will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The government is determined to prevent any kind of action that disturbs social unity, harmony and social coexistence that has been maintained since time immemorial.

Nepal being a multiracial and multicultural nation, people of different castes, races, religions and cultures have been living together with mutual cooperation, respect and deep harmony since centuries. Unity in diversity is our uniqueness and also the basic character of Nepali society. By maintaining the coexistence of all, protecting and promoting originality, our national unity will be sustainable and strong.

Aain Bahadur Shahi: During your visit to China, is there any plan to discuss the opening of Namche Langa border?

During my upcoming visit to China, there will be talks about opening a new trade channel. It is almost certain that there will be a talk about opening the Namche Langa crossing in Mugu. The government will give priority to the development of tourist areas including Rara.

Asha BK: Caste-based discrimination and untouchability is still there in the society and violence is still occuring in various parts of the country, what is your take on it ? 

Nepal’s constitution 2015 has ensured rights against untouchability and discrimination as a fundamental rights of every citizen. So the government is committed to ending such discrimination and taking action against those who are involved in such crimes.

Urmila Majhi: Nepal is known as an agricultural country but our productivity is going down and people are not interested to be involved in the agriculture sector. What is the government’s plan to motivate the farmers?

To achieve a sustainable independent economy, the government has put a high priority on qualitative and reformative agriculture. Government has given high-priority to mechanization, modernization and commercialization to improve agricultural productivity.  The government has allocated the sufficient resources for agriculture.

Asthma Chaudhary: The number of eye patients rising across the country, what is the government’s plant to control this epidemic?  

Government has launched a nation-wide campaign to control conjunctivitis.  Similarly, several initiatives have been launched at the local level in order to create awareness in the local level.

Urmila Thebe: Government has adopted the policy of free-education but everywhere the cost of education is increasing, but the government is still hesitant to table a bill on education which aims to address those issues.

Government is fully committed to provide a free and affordable education to all. As stated in the constitution, the government has made necessary arrangements to provide free education to all secondary-level students. Similarly, local governments are investing in the education sector.

Ishwari Gharti: Rolpa district was the base of the 10-year long insurgency but the government under your leadership has not taken any initiative to improve the people’s livelihood, what is your plan for the future? 

There is do doubt that Rolpa has played a historic role in all political movements of Nepal. In every historical juncture, we appreciate the contribution made by the people.  I have been giving high-priority for the social and other development of Rolpa district.

Interpretative declaration should be implemented: PM Dahal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that interpretative declarations adopted by Parliament while endorsing the grant under Millennium Challenge Corporation should be implemented.

Speaking at a public program on Tuesday, the head of the government said that he would inquire with the senior MCC officials whether the US is ready to make the declarative interpretation as part of MCC compact.

Dahal further added “If something wrong happens in declarative interpretation, the key base to go to the street will be interpretative declaration.”  The interpretative declaration is the property of the Parliament and there are doubts whether it will be implemented, PM Dahal said. He further added that interpretative declaration is a valid document under international law. 

Out of the total population of around 30m, 3 lakh people (approx) in Nepal have renal problems. Every year, about 30,000 people experience moderate kidney problems, 3000 have severe kidney failure. About 8,000 people are on dialysis in Nepal; in Malaysia (population: 28m) the number is 45,000. 

Though a poor country, Nepal provides free dialysis through government hospitals, the first of its kind in Asia, by providing Rs 2,500 for each session. The federal government provides a lump sum of Rs 1 lakh to each kidney patient apart from conducting kidney transplant for free. Local governments provide a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 to each patient. Yearly, the government spends around Rs 1bn on dialysis. 

Government should provide immunosuppressive drugs to kidney patients for free.
Moreover, our focus should be on preventing kidney diseases as prevention is better than cure. Awareness programs should be launched for the same. 

The author is the chief consultant nephrologist at National Kidney Center

As global pollution edged upward in 2021, so did its burden on human health, according to new data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI). If the world were to permanently reduce fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline, the average person would add 2.3 years onto their life expectancy—or a combined 17.8bn life-years saved worldwide.

This data makes clear that particulate pollution remains the world’s greatest external risk to human health, with the impact on life expectancy comparable to that of smoking, more than three times that of alcohol use and unsafe water, and more than five times that of transport injuries like car crashes, says the report. 

Yet, the pollution challenge worldwide is vastly unequal.  “Three-quarters of air pollution’s impact on global life expectancy occurs in just six countries, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Indonesia, where people lose one to more than six years off their lives because of the air they breathe,” says Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and creator of the AQLI along with colleagues at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

“For the last five years, the AQLI’s local information on air quality and its health consequences has generated substantial media and political coverage, but there is an opportunity to complement this annual information with more frequent—for example, daily—and locally generated data.”

Indeed, many polluted countries lack basic air pollution infrastructure. Asia and Africa are the two most poignant examples. They contribute 92.7 percent of life years lost due to pollution. Yet, just 6.8 and 3.7 percent of governments in Asia and Africa, respectively, provide their citizens with fully open air quality data. Further, just 35.6 and 4.9 percent of countries in Asia and Africa, respectively, have air quality standards—the most basic building block for policies.

The collective current investments in global air quality infrastructure also do not match where air pollution is having its greatest toll on human life. While there is a large global fund for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis that annually disburses $4bn toward the issues, there is no equivalent set of coordinated resources for air pollution.

In fact, the entire continent of Africa receives under $300,000 in philanthropic funds toward air pollution (i.e. the current average price of a single-family home in the United States). Just $1.4m goes to Asia, outside of China and India. Europe, the United States, and Canada, meanwhile, receive $34m, according to the Clean Air Fund.

“Timely, reliable, open air quality data in particular can be the backbone of civil society and government clean air efforts—providing the information that people and governments lack and that allows for more informed policy decisions,” says Christa Hasenkopf, the director of AQLI and air quality programs at EPIC. “Fortunately, we see an immense opportunity to play a role in reversing this by better targeting—and increasing—our funding dollars to collaboratively build the infrastructure that is missing today.”

Read the Full Report

South Asia

In no other location on the planet is the deadly impact of pollution more visible than in South Asia, home to the four most polluted countries in the world and nearly a quarter of the global population. In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, the AQLI data reveal that residents are expected to lose about five years off their lives on average if the current high levels of pollution persist, and more in the most polluted regions—accounting for more than half of the total life years lost globally due to pollution.

Nepal

The study has shown that Nepal is the world’s third most polluted country based on satellite-derived PM2.5 data. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens the average Nepali resident’s life expectancy by 4.6 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m3 was met. Some areas of Nepal fare much worse than average, with air pollution shortening lives by 6.8 years in the nine districts with the highest concentration of particulate pollution, according to the study. These districts lie in southern Nepal and share their borders with the highly-polluted Northern Plains of India, the study says.

Asia and Africa bear the greatest burden 

Asia and Africa bear the greatest burden yet have some of the weakest infrastructure to deliver citizens timely, accurate data. They also receive tiny slices of an already small global philanthropic pie. For example, the entire continent of Africa receives less than $300,000 to tackle air pollution.

“There is a profound disconnect with where air pollution is the worst and where we, collectively and globally, are deploying resources to fix the problem,” Christa Hasenkopf, director of air quality programs at EPIC.

While there is an international financing partnership called the Global Fund that disburses $4bn annually on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, there is no equivalent for air pollution.

“Yet, air pollution shaves off more years from the average person’s life in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Cameroon than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other health threats,” the report said.

Bangladesh tops ranking 

Globally, South Asia is the worst impacted region. Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan are in order the top four most polluted countries in terms of annualized, population-weighted averages of fine particulate matter, which are detected by satellites and defined as particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5).

Air pollution concentrations are then fed into the AQLI metric which calculates their impact on life expectancy, based on peer-reviewed methods. Residents of Bangladesh, where average PM2.5 levels were 74 micrograms per cubic meter, would gain 6.8 years of life if this were brought to WHO guidelines of five micrograms per cubic meter. India’s capital Delhi meanwhile is the “most polluted megacity in the world” with annual average particulate pollution of 126.5 micrograms per cubic meter. 

With inputs from AFP

“Timely, reliable, open air quality data in particular can be the backbone of civil society and government clean air efforts—providing the information that people and governments lack and that allows for more informed policy decisions,” says Christa Hasenkopf, the director of AQLI and air quality programs at EPIC