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Bennett bids farewell with ‘deep concerns’
KATHMANDU, AUG 05 -
Richard Bennett, the outgoing Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, has expressed his “deep concerns” over the lack of progress on issues of accountability and the continuing impunity in Nepal.
Bennett made the statement during his farewell meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Thursday. Bennett is leaving Nepal on Monday following his appointment as the chief of a high-level “Panel of Experts” formed under the OHCHR to advise the UN secretary general on Sri Lanka.
During the valedictory meeting, Bennett “encouraged determined efforts to move forward” on emblematic cases involving both the UCPN (Maoist) and the state as well as to set up the transitional justice mechanisms in accordance with international standards.
“The prime minister recognised these concerns and acknowledged and appreciated OHCHR’s role in Nepal,” said OHCHR in a statement.
During the meeting, Bennett also briefed the prime minister on the timeline for the closure of OHCHR’s field offices, and on plans to continue OHCHR programmes from Kathmandu.
OHCHR has planned to shut down its regional offices in Janakpur and Dhangadi in September and those in Biratnagar and Nepalgunj by the end of the year as required by the government in the new limited mandate.
Bennett’s Deputy Jyoti Sanghera will take up the position of the Acting Head of OHCHR-Nepal until the arrival of a new representative, said the statement.
During the meeting, Bennett noted the linkage between the peace process and the human rights situation. He appreciated the initiative of the prime minister and his Office to combat gender-based violence and his receptiveness towards the Durban Review Conference Follow-up Committee representing marginalised communities including women, Dalits, Madhesis, people with disabilities, and sexual and religious minorities and he expressed the view that “the way in which the most marginalised groups in a given society are treated is a measure of that society”.
Posted on: 2010-08-06 08:51
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