During her meeting with Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, Pillay said since the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) was the largest of Geneva-based OHCHR´s all field offices, the extension of its term would attach significant importance during Nepal´s transition, according to a government source. [break]
"Besides talking general human rights issues, she (Pillay) put emphasis on the extension of the term of OHCHR-Nepal for three more years," the source told myrepublica.com.
Pillay (center), during an interaction with members of the civil society.
Tilak Pokharel
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Since its establishment in 2005 – initially for two years, the term of OHCHR-Nepal was extended for further two years in 2007 and its current term is expiring in June. Ian Martin (Britain) headed the office until after the success of the 2006 Jana-andolan before heading the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). Lena Sudh (Sweden) took over as the head of OHCHR-Nepal in November 2006 and was replaced by Richard Bennett (New Zealand) about a year later. Bennett continues to serve as the OHCHR-Nepal head.
While talking human rights with Minister Yadav, according to the source, Pillay said despite substantial progress in the situation of human rights since the signing of the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the issue of impunity continues to remain a pressing human rights concern in Nepal. She however didn´t raise the issue of Nepal being reluctant to OHCHR´s request of establishing its South and West Asia regional office in Kathmandu.
Pillay, who arrived here on Wednesday on a five-day visit, also called on chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subas Nembang, Thursday. She is meeting President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, among others, on Friday.
No prosecution for past HR violation makes Pillay furious
During her opening remarks at an interaction with members of the civil society on Thursday, Pillay put special emphasis on no action against those committing human rights violations in the past. "…no one has been prosecuted for a human rights violation committed during the conflict, despite myriad recommendations in numerous reports issued by our various organizations."
"So, what do we do – throw our hands up in the air?" she said. "No, we must continue reaching out, to one another and to individuals and organizations outside of our usual circles. We must continue to advocate publicly and behind closed doors in Nepal, Geneva and New York to ensure that the government lives up to its human rights obligations."
Until someone is held accountable for past violations, she added, serious crimes like the killing of journalist Uma Singh and of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha will continue and the peace process will be at threat.
Also during her meeting with members and officials of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the UN human rights chief expressed serious concerns over non-implementation of the recommendations made by NHRC and her office in Nepal, contributing to the rise in culture of impunity, according to an NHRC statement.
While briefing Pillay about human rights situation in Nepal, NHRC Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya said the impunity has grown as a culture due to political protection of crime and criminals, among others, in Nepal.
During the meeting, Upadhyaya asked Pillay to exert pressure upon the government to ratify the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court to prevent further escalation of human rights situation in Nepal.
Pillay also told the gathering of civil society members that her office in Nepal at the moment is focusing on the promotion and protection of human rights defenders. She also announced that OHCHR-Nepal is soon bringing out two reports on the justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights; and on access to justice for members of marginalized communities.
tilak@myrepublica.com
