KATHMANDU, July 10

As constitution writing is gaining momentum, with the process entering the feedback collection stage, the international community has welcomed the efforts shown by political parties to finalise the document as quickly as possible.

The international community has also called on all the parties to put efforts towards building a ‘common ownership’ of the draft by all Nepali citizens.

“The political parties have an opportunity to build momentum through a public consultation process that gives all Nepali citizens a full opportunity to express their views and to build common ownership of the draft constitution,” UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said in a statement on behalf of the international community.

The international community commends the current progress in the constitution drafting process, and the efforts shown by all political parties to finalise the constitution in the near future

— Jamie McGoldrick, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal

McGoldrick yesterday hosted a meeting of all Kathmandu-based ambassadors and heads of missions to build a common view on the future constitution of Nepal, the preliminary draft of which has been distributed across the country for public feedback. Ambassadors and chiefs of missions of some two dozen countries, including India, China, Japan, Germany, Russia, the UK, the USA, France, the European Union and Finland were present in the meeting.

In the meeting, envoys of a few influential countries had expressed differing views on some key issues mentioned in the draft constitution like secularism, citizenship, rights of women and inclusion, diplomatic sources told The Himalayan Times.

According to diplomatic sources, some foreign diplomats had also underscored the need of addressing concerns of the unsatisfied political parties in the new constitution, sources added.

“The international community commends the current progress in the constitution drafting process, and the efforts shown by all political parties to finalise the constitution in the near future,” read the opening sentence of McGoldrick’s statement. The diplomatic community further urged the political leaders to honour their commitments to fundamental human rights, gender equality and inclusiveness in the constitution in line with the international laws, to which Nepal is a signatory.

They stated that constitution providing the interests, equity and rights of women and men from all sections of Nepali society would build on the positive achievements of past agreements.

“With this fundamental and guiding document, the political leadership has a historic opportunity to inspire a peaceful, united, inclusive and democratic future of Nepal,” read the statement.