KATHMANDU, July 17: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to immediately proceed with the process of ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The NHRC made the urge by issuing a statement on Monday on the occasion of the International Criminal Justice Day.

The International Criminal Court, established under the Rome Statute, paves the way to hold accountable those involved in serious crimes such as war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and extortion as defined by international law and to ensure justice for the victims. The Rome Statute is regarded as a milestone in terms of ensuring justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable through human rights, humanitarian law and criminal justice.

In this regard, the NHRC wrote a letter to the Government of Nepal on August 6 to approve the Rome Statute. According to a press release issued by Shyambabu Kafle, assistant spokesperson for the NHRC, the rights body has once again reminded the Government of Nepal to establish the rule of law and be sensitive to the creation of a human rights culture by approving the Rome Statute in accordance with the recommendations made by the NHRC in the past, the resolution passed by the House of Representatives and the order of the Supreme Court.

The NHRC has also expressed its concern that the work of making laws that support impunity has not been stopped. The NHRC has expressed concern over the delay in ratifying the Rome Statute, despite a resolution passed by the then House of Representatives on July 19, 2006 and a Supreme Court writ (writ no 2942) of 2059 BS. The NHRC says that impunity will get more support as the instructions provided for the establishment of the humanitarian law have not yet been implemented.

 
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