Kathmandu, October 10:

The European Union today issued guidelines for Human Rights Defenders, spelling out practical measures for the EU embassies in Kathmandu to support HRDs and reduce their vulnerability.

The guidelines include attending trials of HRDs, ensuring that protection issues are included in human rights projects funded by the EU, showing public support for HRDs by inviting them to embassy events, and putting HRDs on the agenda of bilateral talks with the government on human rights.

Speaking at a press meet, Dr Andrew Hall, on behalf of the EU, said, “Human rights defenders play a key role in ensuring the protection of victims of human rights violations. And they should be allowed to do so without fearing attacks and intimidation, and without their own human rights being violated.”

The EU embassies in Nepal will promote the EU Guidelines for HRDs to raise awareness about the HRDs and their rights and roles.

The EU also stated that it will translate the guidelines into Nepali and disseminate to the government and Nepal Human Rights Commission and among human rights organisations, security forces, political parties, academic institutions, and law faculty.

“The state’s continuing inability to provide public security combined with proliferation of illegal armed groups, rise of communal tensions, and threats to free expression at a regional level, puts some HRDs, particularly journalists, at great risk,” the guidelines stated.