KATHMANDU, JANUARY 22

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali led the Nepali delegation to the third cycle of Universal Periodic Review of Nepal held during the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council UPR Working Group today.

Delivering the opening statement, the foreign minister introduced Nepal’s national report to the UPR Working Group and highlighted Nepal’s efforts towards promotion and protection of human rights, including the implementation of the recommendations accepted during the previous review.

He said that Nepal believed in the universality, indivisibility, interdependence, inter-relatedness, and mutually reinforcing nature of human rights, including the right to development. He stated that Nepal’s commitment to promotion and protection of human rights was total and unequivocal, and underscored that the rule of law and human rights should be evenly operational at national, regional, and international levels.

The foreign minister mentioned that as a state party to seven core human rights Conventions and six Optional Protocols; seven humanitarian Conventions, including the four Geneva Conventions of 1949; eleven ILO Conventions; and fourteen other international and two regional Conventions that have a direct bearing on human rights, Nepal strongly upholds the values enshrined in those conventions.

He also said that the government was committed to promoting gender equality and inclusiveness, combating violence against women, promoting rights of the child, ending caste-based discrimination, as well as promoting the rights of indigenous people, Dalits, minorities, and other marginalised communities.

Gyawali held that Nepal’s peace process was guided by the Comprehensive Peace Accord, the directives of the Supreme Court, relevant international commitments, concerns of the victims, and the ground realities. The government is steadfast that there would be no blanket amnesty in cases of serious violation of human rights.

Likewise, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi responded to the queries from the floor related to citizenship, refugees, National Human Rights Commission, rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and SDGs, among others.

On the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Maheshwor Neupane responded to the issues related to the civil and political rights, whereas Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Yam Kumari Khatiwada responded to the queries on economic, social and cultural rights.

Delegates from 98 countries took part in the interactive dialogue providing their appreciations, comments, and recommendations.