KATHMANDU, MAR 18 - Following conflicting statements regarding the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) term and mandate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has called for a meeting on Thursday to finalise the fate of the UN body.

In the absence of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, upon MoFA mandarins’ the recommendation was to take a call regarding OHCHR term extension and its mandate by another six months.

However, Koirala at the 13th session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on first week of March had assured that the government was ready to extend the term of OHCHR for another one year with limited mandate. DPM Koirala conveyed that the government was ready to extend the term for another one year with reduced mandate, provide an advisory and strengthen role of National Human Rights Commissions, National Dalit Commission and National Women’s Commission. “OHCHR chief Richard Bennet was positive in Geneva when the DPM conveyed the government’s stand,” said an official who attended the talks.

However, the proposal forwarded to the Cabinet by MoFA on March 9 had mentioned only the term extension and was silent about the mandate.

“The prime minister and senior MoFA officials wanted the UN body to stay for another six months only without reducing the mandate. However, DPM Koirala opposed the existing mandate and conveyed the OHCR chief that mandate related to access to legislative, prison and supreme court should be scaled down and only advisory role shall be permitted,” the official said.

The current term of the UN body, which is the largest after Colombia, expires on June 9.

OHCHR-Nepal is mandated to monitor human rights and international law throughout the country by carrying out investigations, advising the authorities of Nepal on the formation and implementation of policies, programmes and measures for the promotion and protection of human rights and providing advisory services and support to institutions.

The UN body, which wants to stay here for another two years, has already endorsed its two years budget close to US $1.4 million.

The outcome of the meeting will be briefed later to the prime minister to take a final call on OHCHR.

“The prime minister had asked OHCHR to hand over its responsibilities as soon as possible by assisting NHRC and other commissions,” stated a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office after the prime minister-OHCHR chief meeting.

Posted on: 2010-03-18 12:00

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