Kathmandu, May 27

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today said that once all three types of elections were held as per the constitutional provisions, that would pave the way for development, prosperity and justice.

Addressing the 17th anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission here today, the PM said human rights were not only for the elites and educated people but were also   for the poor, destitute, elderly people, differently abled, children and deprived communities.

“Therefore, I hope that the NHRC makes additional contributions to the protection and promotion of the human rights of deprived communities as it continues to protect civil and political rights,” the PM said.

He further said that there was a need for strengthening national unity by ensuring access of deprived communities, women, Dalit, indigenous nationalities and Madhesis who have faced deprivation, exploitation and extreme discrimination, to state’s power and resources.

First phase of elections held recently had enabled the people to determine their own fate, the PM noted.

Human rights are for everybody but these rights have special meaning particularly for those who are not able to assert their rights. Today our main aim should be to focus on these groups, the PM added.He said the government was committed to ensure that the independence and autonomy of the National Human Rights Commission would not be violated by any side.

Stating that the government had been providing the budget to the NHRC as demanded by it, the PM said the government was committed to providing all kinds of help to the rights body. He said the government was also committed to implementing the recommendations of the NHRC and two transitional mechanisms — Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons.

The government had given priority to implement the recommendations of the NHRC and had taken actions against those responsible for human rights violations, he added.