KATHMANDU, Dec 10: The three-day Human Rights Magna Meet concluded on Thursday, adopting a Kathmandu Declaration that urges political parties not to protect perpetrators of rights violations and to promote rule of law in the country.
The Meet, first of its kind coinciding with the International Human Rights Day, also concluded that the culture of impunity has increased in the country as political parties themselves have been protecting individuals implicated in human rights violations.
"There is effort by leaders of political parties and their cadres to protect human rights violators," reads the Declaration.
Over 150 civil society organizations had taken part in the Meet that also asked the parties to constitute the truth and reconciliation commission, disappearance commission and commission on state restructuring as early as possible. Similarly, it has stressed on the need for establishment of a mechanism for monitoring of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA).
"Who - government or the Maoist - are more responsible for breaching the CPA?" the Declaration asked, "A mechanism should be set up to probe the breaching and those guilty should be punished accordingly."
In the meantime, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who was present in the concluding session of the Meet, said the government would take the declaration seriously.