Birgunj, February 17 :

The Nepal-based chief of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Lena Sundh today insisted that the century-long discrimination against Dalits, Madhesis, Janajatis, indigenous communities and women here should end.

“The OHCHR-Nepal is working for the establishment of peace and suitable representation of all communities in the election process,” Sundh said, adding, “The political parties have the responsibility to provide inclusive representation in the Constituent Assembly polls.”

Sundh arrived here to collect information about the Tarai turmoil.

Speaking at a programme on “Human Rights in the Peace Process”, Sundh said, “It is a challenge to end social and racial discrimination because it has been rooted in Nepal for centuries.”

She hoped that the seven parties and the Maoists would open the door for ending discrimination in their comprehensive peace agreements.

Constituent assembly polls in some countries could be held only two or three years after restoration of peace, she said, adding that the Nepal government was just seven months old, so it is difficult to function according to ambitions of the people.

She urged Nepalis to be patient and said other countries took long time to do what the eight parties in Nepal are preparing to do.

“The OHCHR insists on making security forces accountable to the Nepali people, investigation into incidents of human rights violations that occurred during the conflict in Nepal, publicising the whereabouts of all missing persons,” she said.

Sundh also stressed on the need to provide more training to the Nepal Police that will be assigned with a major role to maintain peace during the constituent assembly polls.

She also condemned the attacks on journalists and rights activists during the recent Tarai unrest. Former member of the National Human Rights Commission, Sushil Pyakurel, lamented that the Nepali people are still fighting for their rights. “It will be difficult if this situation persists,” he said.