Elevate the right to privacy as a constitutional right in Nepal
Photo: Unsplash Privacy is a fundamental human right recognised internationally, but it lacks explicit constitutional protection in Nepal. While the Nepali constitution contains provisions about the right to communication and home privacy, it does not expressly establish a comprehensive right to privacy that includes the protection of personal data, bodily autonomy, and confidentiality of personal matters. Nepal should amend its constitution to enumerate the right to privacy as a fundamental constitutional right, in line with international norms and recent precedents in comparative constitutional law. Elevating privacy to a constitutional right would provide stronger legal grounds for Nepali courts to issue rulings limiting unwarranted surveillance and protecting personal autonomy against state and private actors. It would also harmonise Nepal’s domestic law with its commitments under international human rights treaties. With new technologies enabling unprecedented growth in sur...