The way the two human rights organisations, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Nepal (OHCHR-N), worked mutually wary of each other seems to have come to an end, and possibly a positive step forward in human rights protection in the country. It now augurs well that the two have signed a 10-point Guidelines for Cooperation a few days back to set the pace for greater meaningful contribution to make the human rights situation more respectable in the country. A glaring problem that had irked human rights activists had been the unusual duplication of work that the two were engaged in. It resulted in a waste of time and effort which could have been utilized in other cases of human rights violations that can be picked up by the scores in the country that has only recently emerged from the decade-long conflict.

With the human rights organisations joining hands, the expectation is that a rosy picture would emerge. But, this is far simpler said than done. The Human Rights Year Book 2009 has painted a grim picture of the impunity that prevails to impede all efforts to contain human rights violations in every sphere of national life. Other reports on human rights that have been out have also similar findings. NHRC too has confessed to its inability to fulfill its mission as expected. The NHRC shortcomings have been alleged to be the result of the “arbitrary intervention of the government”. The rights body has been reported to have forwarded numerous recommendations and decisions to the government but there has been very little progress on the implementation aspect. The government has been frank to say that there have been failures and has made the commitment to rectify the mistakes so that the maintenance of human rights will remain the focus. A prime source of action is the Office of the PM that seems to be twiddling with its thumbs rather than go for the action spree against impunity. The security agencies and the various armed groups in the country too have time and again been alleged to have gone against the human rights spirit, and the urgency exists to rein them in.

It is true that the government alone cannot single-handedly contain the menace of human rights violations and the impunity that goes along with it. This, therefore, brings to the fore the involvement of the political parties to protect human rights. It is a venture that requires the efforts of all, particularly given the uncertainty of political transition and the fact that the law and order situation leaves much to be desired. The parties have their own vested interests. The ruling and opposition parties have made a mockery of the human rights principles, so the call is primarily on them to reform themselves before the situation can improve. The ruling parties too should be able to move out from the narrow partisan confines and look upon the general people as their source of power. The parties should shy away from offering protection to the rights violators. Only a united political stand can end the infringement on human rights from whichever quarter it may be.