Kathmandu, March 29

The International Commission of Jurists has asked Nepal to ensure that post-earthquake recovery is carried out in accordance with the country’s human rights obligations.

“Nepali authorities must ensure that post-earthquake assistance is based on needs alone and without discrimination on any status grounds, including descent (caste), gender, ethnicity or political affiliation,” the ICJ said, issuing a statement today.

Meanwhile, the ICJ released a preliminary report of a fact-finding study conducted by it in collaboration with Nepal Bar Association, following the earthquakes last year.

The study focused on Gorkha, Dolakha and Okhaldungha districts with the aim of assessing the humanitarian response in the earthquake’s immediate aftermath on the basis of international human rights law and standards, the ICJ said.

The report notes that such assistance must be directed at protecting key economic and social rights, such as the right to food, water, adequate housing, health, education and adequate standard of living.

“The ICJ and the NBA found that the political delays in operationalising the NRA had aggravated existing problems with marginalised groups and hampered the provision of necessary aid,” said Nikhil Narayan, the ICJ’s Senior Legal Adviser for South Asia and Head of Office in Nepal, in the statement.

“Nepali authorities, particularly the newly launched NRA, must reaffirm their commitment to protecting the rights of those affected by the earthquake, who have been suffering for nearly one year now,” he added.

The report aims to assist policy makers, particularly the recently operational NRA, and humanitarian actors by identifying the most immediate human rights concerns and providing recommendations to ensure the protection of the human rights of affected populations, the ICJ said.

It has criticised the government’s undue delay in formulating a comprehensive long term policy plan for resettlement, livelihood and other assistance for those displaced.

It also pointed out that no victims were not provided adequate information on the assistance they were entitled to and called on the concerned authorities to ensure their resettlement.