The Quest For Equality: The significance of a constitution

A nation’s constitution is the foundation on which it is built. It legitimises the rights of a nation’s citizens, irrespective of their caste, creed, sex, race or religion. It is a social contract between a people and their government. It guarantees the people’s right to equality and fair treatment. Nepal’s quest towards a more equitable and inclusive constitution has been a difficult one. The new constitution is intended to create, a more representative, secular and democratic government following the civil war and the years of trauma suffered by the Nepalese people at the hands of the Hindu Monarchy. It is intended to unify the people and so create the building blocks towards a better Nepal. This effort, this quest deserves the attention of all its nations citizens due in part to the significance of a constitution to its nation.

Few people truly consider the significance of their nation’s constitution. They fail to realise the rights afforded to them by this contract whether written or unwritten between their government and themselves. Newly developing countries often go through several periods of constitutional drafting due to the pertinence of having an equitable and egalitarian constitution on which a nation can thrive. A citizens rights and the function of their government are imbedded in their constitution.  It lays out the basic structure of the government and stands superior to all the laws framed with the precincts of the country. More importantly, especially in regard to developing countries or nations undergoing political tumult the constitution deals with and establishes limitations on power. Constitutions, fair and just constitutions are essential to restricting the abuse of power by those in top governmental functions.

It is essential that all persons are involved and represented in the developmental processes of their nations constitution, especially minority groups, women and the nation’s youth. These three groups are most often underrepresented in political standings and so are most often marginalised and not afforded the rights they deserve. It is said the youth are the future, and determine the path and future not only of their respective nations but of the world. For this reason it is important that the youth of Nepal are more active in the decisions being made about their lives and their rights as these decisions are what determine their opportunities, and what kind of society and world they will bring their own children into.