KATHMANDU, JUN 04 -
The government and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nepal (OHCHR-N) are negotiating in Geneva regarding tenure extension of the UN rights body.

In its proposed draft agreement, the government has strongly urged the OHCHR-N to shut down its four regional offices and to agree on the revised mandate that curtails some of its access, including to the archives of the legislature and courts. The UN body’s current mandate and term expire on June 9. “OHCHR-N’s term will be extended for one year if it agrees on the revised mandate and to shut down its four regional offices. In addition to this, it has to prepare for the exit plan,” said a senior Foreign Ministry official.

If the UN rights body disagrees with the government’s proposal, the government will allow it to stay another six months with the current mandate, said the official.

Various human rights organisations and rights defenders have urged the government to extend the OHCHR’s term and mandate. “Nepal is going through a transitional phase. The peace process is yet to be completed and the residues of the past conflict and the state of impunity still prevail. And, the country’s human rights record hasn’t improved much,” reads a joint statement of the rights defenders.

“Therefore, the undersigned rights activists and representatives of rights organisations feel the presence of a UN rights body is very important in the country,” states the release. “We strongly urge the government to decide immediately on the OHCHR’s term extension with the mandate of working in coordination with the National Human Rights Commission.”

Posted on: 2010-06-05 08:33

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