Kathmandu, December 8:

The Asian Human Rights Commission, in the run up to the International Human Rights Day, has said much needs to be done on the human rights front in Nepal. The AHRC is concerned about rights violations committed by both the government and the Maoists, including abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings.

“If all parties stick to their commitments made as part of various agreements then there is reason to hope that the country is heading into a period of sustained democratic development and peace,” said an AHRC statement. It said much remains to be done from a human rights perspective.

Violence will persist while the culture of impunity that has accompanied the widespread abuses of the past continues in the country, it said. It urged the authorities concerned to immediately investigate and prosecute all allegations of human rights abuses in line with Nepal’s international obligations. “It is also vital that an effective, credible and well-resourced system of witness protection be created. Otherwise, the investigation and prosecution of alleged perpetrators will fail,” it said.

In the process of ensuring that the people responsible for human rights violations are held accountable, Nepal can establish a deterrent against future violations and the victims can feel secure that adequate compensation will be provided, it said.