KATHMANDU, NOV 14 - The government has prepared a set of directives for the proposed Human Rights Promotion Centre (HRPC) to be set up at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), a source at the (PMO), said today.
As per the provisions envisaged in the directives, the HRPC will co-ordinate promotion
and consolidation of human rights.
According to the source, a seven-member directorate of HRPC will be set up under the convenership of the chief secretary. The secretaries at the PMO, Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Women Children and Social Welfare and National Planning Commission will be members of the directorate. A human rights expert will be appointed as the director of the centre. The secretary-level director will also work as the member secretary of the HRPC.
The HRPC will submit its reports every three months to the prime minister.
According to the source, the HRPC will launch promotional programmes to help attain the fundamental rights envisioned by the Constitution. Besides this, the HRPC will be suggesting the government on the issues of laws, policies and
programmes for implementation of international treaties and conventions signed by Nepal.
"The centre will help the government play a positive role in consolidating and promoting human rights situation in Nepal as per the spirit of international and national humanitarian laws," the source added.
Nepal Human Rights Commission, however, has pointed out "statutory obstacles" and denied any possibility of working in co-ordination with the HRPC. "Clause 22 of the NHRC Act, 2053 does not place us under anyone’s co-ordination," said the Commission source, adding, "We will continue making contact with the government through the cabinet secretariat."
He said the government’s intention might be to make it easy through the HRPC to deal with human rights issues related to NHRC, army and international organisations.
Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has also expressed similar intention during an interview with The Kathmandu Post few days ago.Amnesty International has also asked the government to make the motive behind setting up a separate institution clear.Posted on: 2003-11-13 09:22
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by Abin
She’s an actress....Had approached for acting lessons...they took her in their party!