No progress on accountability: Bennett

KATHMANDU, Aug 7:  The outgoing chief of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, Nepal (OHCHR-N) Richard Bennett has expressed deep concern over lack of progress on issues of accountability and continuing impunity.



Bennette expressed such concerns during his farewell meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Thursday, OHCHR-N said in a statement. [break]



"He [Bennett] encouraged determined efforts to move forward on emblematic cases involving both the UCPN-Maoist party and the state as well as to set up transitional justice mechanism in accordance with international standards," the statement said.



According to the statement, Bennette is leaving Nepal to take up new responsibility in New York very soon.



OHCHR-N further said that the prime minister acknowledged and appreciated OHCHR´s role in Nepal.



During the meeting, Bennett briefed the prime minister on the timeline for the closure of OHCHR´s field offices, and on plans to continue OHCHR´s programs from Kathmandu.



Bennette also informed the prime minister that Jyoti Sanghera will take up the position of the Acting Head of OHCHR-Nepal after his departure until the arrival of a new chief.

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