Three representatives from each district working in the sector of human rights are taking part in the convention. [break]
People active in the protection and promotion of human rights are called ´human rights defenders´. However, the United Nation has not called security personnel as the human rights defenders
Of 35,000 non government organizations across the country, some 5,000 are estimated to be working in the sector of human rights.
The condition of human rights is not satisfactory in Nepal. The violation of human rights was severe during the conflict. Around 17,000 people were killed by the both state and rebel side during the decade long armed conflict.
However, status of many missing in the conflict is still unknown. Similarly, many who could not tolerate torture from the state and rebels were displaced during the conflict.
The government had formed human rights commission as a constitutional body and the commission has completed study and research on the issues of human rights violations and has been recommending to the government for punishment or compensation.
The convention is expected to endorse a guidelines related to human rights activists prepared by the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC).
Promotion, protection and respect of human rights, accountability of the State, effective role of human rights defenders, accountability and transparency of their role are the agendas of discussions of the convention.
It is the duty and responsibility of human rights defenders to respect and assimilate basic principles of human rights and rule of law--equality, access, impartiality, accountability, transparency and independency and autonomy.
Inaugurating the convention, Chairman of the organizing committee Kedarnath Upadhyay expressed his concerns over increasing incidents of human rights violations in the country.
Ensuring security to human rights activists is the responsibility of the state, he said, expressing his dissatisfaction over non-implementation of Commission´s recommendations of action against the human rights violators by the government.
Chairperson of National Women´s Commission Shesh Chandtara, Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel, Chairperson of NGO Federation Nepal Sharmila Karki, representative from Finland Embassy Salu P. Bhuima, Commission member Gauri Pradhan, were among those people expressing their views at the programme.
Although Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai was scheduled to attend the inaugural session as a chief guest, he failed to attend the programme due to fever.
Related story
Forum-Asia, right defenders urge for establishment of SAARC hum...
_20240311121839.jpg)
