Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Nepal govt has not fulfilled Human Rights Commitment:UN

Posted on 04 Oct 2005 # UNI

Kathmandu : Nepal's government has not fulfilled its own commitments on human rights expressed at the United Nations, a senior UN official based in the country said.

''There is gap between the commitment and its implementation,'' Ian Martin, the representative of the Office of the UN Human Rights Commission said at a function here, The Kathmandu Post today reported.

The official was referring to the government's 28-point commitment to human rights and international humanitarian law.
He alleged that the government had not implemented its commitment that arrested individuals will be informed of the reasons for their arrest.
''Also no steps are being taken to informing the whereabouts of individuals in detention to their family members and allow the detainees to talk to family members and lawyers,'' he said, noting that ''the government had committed itself to respect the orders of the judiciary or other suitable orders vis-а-vis habeas corpus and effective remedies.'' ''The government has also reneged on its pledge not to torture an accused, physically and mentally in the process of investigation.Besides, as per the commitment, the government had assured that the exercise of the right to assemble peacefully without arms would be permitted in an unobstructed way,'' Mr Martin warned that '''if peaceful means failed, UN member states were ready to take collective action.'' ''It is hard to find causes for optimism looking around the world. However, the global trends of accountability, and the responsibility to protect civilians, sovereignty notwithstanding, offer hope,'' he note.He reiterated the UN stance that it is important for political conflicts to be settled peacefully rather than by taking up arms.Mr Martin quoted UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour as saying that rulers and dictators who thought themselves immune are today facing trial.
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