Kathmandu, May 30:

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today wrote to Speaker Subas Nembang urging him to criminalise disappearances by making suitable changes in the Civil Code-1963 amendment bill.

The ICJ also called upon the Speaker to prosecute those responsible for the disappearances in the past 10 years. It also urged the parliament to end impunity.

In the letter, Secretary General of the ICJ, Nicolas Howen, recommended 23 changes in the bill.

Stating that there are many flaws in the bill, the ICJ suggested promulgating an independent legislation to address the crime. It further suggested compensating families of the victims.

The ICJ added that the definition of disappearance in Section 1 of the bill is not in conformity with the recognised definition of ‘enforced disappearance’ in international human rights laws.