KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 26

Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal was told today by the prime minister to drop her plan to fly to Geneva to take part in the Human Rights Council conference. The 52nd regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from February 27 to April 4.

Paudyal told THT that she heard from her ministry officials who were communicated by the Prime Minister's Office to drop her plan to visit Geneva to take part in the HRC conference.

'I had made preparations for this visit as the Cabinet had okayed my travel, but at the eleventh hour I was told not to go there,' Paudyal said. She said the conference was scheduled to discuss human rights issues and had nothing to do with party politics.

'I felt bad when I was told to drop my plan. Now someone else will read out the government's statement in the HRC conference,' Paudyal said.

A team of four officials led by Senior Advocate Govinda Bandi will take RSS part in the HRC conference.

Nepali team will take part in HRC conference tomorrow and day after tomorrow. Nepal was re-elected as HRC member in October 2020 for three years.

Nepal's participation in HRC is taking place at a time when Geneva-based Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions has downgraded National Human Rights Commission's status to B. GANHRI downgraded NHRC's status in November raising questions on the legality of the appointment of NHRC office bearers (members and its chief) and their work performance.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.