Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 20:

Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) to Nepal, Ian Martin, today said the role of non-governmental organisations is crucial for ensuring democracy, human rights, peace, social justice and development. He made this remark while addressing the 11th annual general meeting of the NGO Federation of Nepal.

“The Nepal office of the UNHCHR is mandated to monitor the situation of human rights and observance of international humanitarian law, including investigation and verification through the deployment of international human rights officers throughout the country as required,” he said, adding that the importance of civil society is well recognised in the agreement between Nepal and UNHCHR. He said that his office has already started investigation on the killings of civilians in Chitwan, Kavre and Kailali districts. Addressing the function, Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and CPN-UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal said civil society became vibrant due to the restoration of democracy in 1990.