LALITPUR, Dec. 8 -- Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that a weakened democracy poses serious challenges to the protection of human rights, urging all stakeholders to remain vigilant.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 17th National Human Rights General Assembly in Lalitpur on Monday, he stressed that strengthening democracy is essential for ensuring effective human rights implementation.

Stating that democracy and human rights are complementary to each other, Minister Aryal said that only a consolidated democratic system can guarantee the rights of citizens. He added that the government is committed to institutionalizing democratic practices in the current context of political transition and called on all concerned parties t...