KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 24

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has stated that Nepal has gone the extra mile in fulfilling its human rights obligations by adopting periodic National Human Rights Action Plans over the past two decades. "Currently, we are preparing our sixth Human Rights Action Plan," she announced.

Delivering her statement as the Head of the Nepali Delegation at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) High-Level Segment at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier today, she highlighted Nepal's efforts to scale up its commitments.

She noted that Nepal has initiated the ratification process for the ILO Convention on Freedom of Association. "Earlier this month, Nepal submitted its seventh periodic report to the CEDAW Committee while also implementing the recommendations received in the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)," she added.

Emphasizing Nepal's commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Dr. Rana Deuba affirmed that Nepal remains constructively engaged with human rights instruments and mechanisms. She reiterated the government's dedication to ensuring the independence of the National Human Rights Commission, which has maintained its 'A' category accreditation since its establishment. "Nepal upholds press freedom and boasts a vibrant civil society, with community groups, human rights defenders, and the media as key partners in advancing human rights and inclusive development," she said.

The Foreign Minister underscored that Nepal's experience in upholding human rights, democracy, and peacebuilding could serve as a valuable reference for countries facing similar challenges. She further highlighted that Nepal's Constitution guarantees the full spectrum of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights as fundamental human rights, with extraordinary jurisdiction granted to courts for enforcing these provisions. "Thus," she stated, "Nepal is a trailblazer in the protection and promotion of human rights."

She also pointed to a significant leap forward in Nepal's human rights landscape-the constitutional guarantee of one-third representation for women in the federal and provincial parliaments and forty percent representation in local governments.

She noted that access to justice has improved at the grassroots level through judicial committees led by elected deputy mayors, most of whom are women. "Similarly, the mandatory inclusion of minority groups in political bodies at all levels has ensured human rights for all," she added.

On Nepal's peace process, Dr. Rana Deuba stated that the country's global reputation is shaped by its nationally-led peace process, which ended a decade-long conflict (1996–2006). This, she said, instilled a deep appreciation for human rights and peace among Nepalese leaders and citizens. "The Government of Nepal is committed to concluding the final phase of transitional justice. To this end, it passed landmark legislation in August 2024, adopting a victim-centric approach in line with international standards," she remarked.

Despite these advancements, she acknowledged emerging human rights challenges, including those posed by anthropogenic climate change and digital technology's intrusion into private life. "We are also taking the lead in ensuring climate justice and will host a dialogue titled Sagarmatha Sambad on 'Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity' in Kathmandu this May," she announced, extending an invitation to all attendees.

Concluding her statement, the Foreign Minister formally announced Nepal's candidacy for membership in the Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term, appealing to all esteemed members for their support.