Kathmandu, December 10

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali today said powerful countries should make genuine efforts to end violence in the world.

He said the world could get rid of violence if powerful countries spent a fraction of what they spend on weapons on peace efforts.

“It is a great challenge for signatories to the United Nations charter to end violence, hunger and diseases prevalent in this world,” he said at an event organised to launch a book titled ‘Human Rights: Human Wrongs in the Scale of Human Conscience’ written by foreign affairs expert Sambhu Ram Simkhada.

Former vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University Kedar Bhakta Mathema said the country should give top priority to sensitive matters like human rights. He said Simkhada would help those who wanted to learn about human rights.

At the book launch, which coincided with the 70th Human Rights Day, the president’s advisor Sushil Pyakurel said it was important to respect and protect human rights rather than talk about it. He said Simkhada’s book portrayed difficulties faced by people deprived of rights.

Member of National Human Rights Commission Sudip Pathak said political will was needed to ensure complete implementation of human rights in the country. Simkhada said the book included his experience of the human rights situation in the world.