Nepal to defend HR record during UPR

Kathmandu, October 30

Nepal’s human rights record will be examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group for the second time on November 4, the UN Human Rights Council announced today.

Nepal is one of the 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session scheduled to take place from November 2 to 13. Nepal’s first UPR had taken place in January 2011.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Agni Prasad Kharel is leading a Nepali delegation to present and defend Nepal’s human rights track record during the UPR.

Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi said Nepal’s human rights situation since the first UPR would be reviewed this time around. He further said Nepal’s track record has improved since then as the country has already set up two mechanisms to address transitional justice issues and promulgated the new constitution ending the prolonged political transition.

The reviews will be based on three national documents, which express the country’s commitments to combating all forms of discrimination, addressing gender-based violence, preventing excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies, among others.

Likewise, issues such as combating impunity for such cases, improving detention conditions, preventing early and forced marriages, reducing child labour, eradicating poverty, ensuring people’s access to safe drinking water and sanitation, addressing alleged reprisals against human rights defenders and journalists, among other things, will also be reviewed.