E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, FEB 11 - Human rights defenders have expressed their dismay at the government's rejection to adopt some of the key recommendations made by the international community on ending systemic torture and extra judicial killings by the state security forces.

During the first ever review of Nepal's human rights situation at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Human Rights Council, Geneva on Jan. 25-27, the international community, including the US and the UK, had urged the government to take effective measures to uphold total prohibition against torture. The UPR had made 135 recommendations to Nepal but the government had refused to accept 15 of them, leading to a breach of Nepal's obligations under international human rights treaties, including the "Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment".

Organising a press meet on Friday, Nepal NGO coalition for UPR, headed by Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), stated Nepal had rejected some "extremely" vital recommendations made by the international community. The coalition of over 235 civil bodies from all over the country also submitted a joint report on Nepal's rights scenario to the UPR.

Out of 135 recommendations received from several UN member states, the country accepted 56 suggestions. Rejecting 15 of those, the Nepali delegation led by the then Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala supported 28 recommendations, which it considered to have been already implemented or in the process of implementation. Nepal, meanwhile, will examine 36 recommendations and will respond to them in due time, but no later than the 17th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2011.

Nepal also rejected to "protect vulnerable refugee populations by allowing for registration of the refugee population in Nepal and by refraining from forcibly returning Tibetan asylum seekers to China". Another recommendation categorised under "internally displaced persons" was also rejected by Nepal.

Among 56 accepted recommendations are those related to supporting the peace process by ensuring timely constitution drafting and continuing the process of brining its national legislation in line with the international standard. The government also agreed to consolidate the human rights infrastructure and strengthen the National Human Rights Commission. The government has been ready also to ensure that all Maoist combatants disqualified as minors have unhindered access to rehabilitation packages. It has also agreed to ensure legal rights for minority communities and make specific provisions for the rights of the Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender Inter-sex community.

"We rejected recommendations that were irrelevant in the present context of Nepal," said Trilochan Upreti, one of the members of the Nepali delegation and secretary at the prime minister's office. "The government is planning to enact laws related to tortures and extra judicial killings. We needn't make extra promises to the international community while the government is preparing to table a Bill related to tortures and extra judicial killings at the Parliament."

The UPR is a UN mechanism formed in 2006 to ensure that all 192 member states respect human rights. It scrutinises each member state every four years and the review report has implications on the respective country's prospects for international aid.

Posted on: 2011-02-11 08:58

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