Ensure protection of human rights victims: OHCHR

KATHMANDU, Dec 17: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal on Friday urged the government to promptly establish an effective mechanism to ensure protection for all victims of, and witnesses to, human rights violations and abuses.



Issuing a press statement on Friday, the OHCHR said, the government of Nepal has already committed to safeguarding the rights of victims and witnesses, including their protection, through the ratification of a number of international human rights treaties. [break]



In light of the future establishment of the transitional justice mechanisms, it is now time for Nepal to adopt the specific measures to make such protection a practical reality. “… the rights to justice and reparation have not been properly emphasized so far and these measures have yet to address issues related to the protection of witness and victims, measures essential for these commissions to undertake their tasks in the best interests of conflict victims and witnesses,” said Andrew Palmer, chief of OHCHR-Nepal.

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