Kathmandu, December 10

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Anup Raj Sharma said the number of human rights violation cases and criminal activities were on the rise in the country of late.

He also that Nepal police had failed to conduct proper investigation into cases of human rights violation and violence against women.

Speaking at the programme organised to mark the 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Sharma said the government had failed to protect human rights.

“The overall situation of human rights is not satisfactory. The registered complaints of war victims were processed only to provide relief funds but not for justice,” he said, adding, “War victims have the right to know the truth. The government should ensure their rights, provide them justice and the culprits should be punished.”

As many as 152 complaints related to cases of human rights violation were registered with National Human Rights Commission this year alone.

In the same way, Sudip Pathak, a member of NHRC, said issues of third gender, Dalit, women violence, untouchability and other forms of discrimination were still prevalent in the country, but the government had failed to address these issues.

“The government of Nepal has pledged to protect human rights in international forums, but human rights have neither been respected nor protected in the country,” said Pathak.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said the government was committed to protecting human rights. He also said those people found guilty of violating human rights and those involved in sexual violence, rape and murder, among other criminal activities, would be punished as per the law.

On the occasion, a rally was taken out from the office of NHRC to Ratnapark.