Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa pledged Nepal government’s commitment to further promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the citizens with equality, equity and justice. Deputy Prime Minister Thapa made the commitment in a meeting with the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein at his office in Palais Wilson, Geneva on Thursday.
Sharing views on the overall situation of human rights in Nepal, Thapa highlighted salient features of the new constitution of Nepal terming it as most democratic and inclusive in nature. On the occasion, views were exchanged on the recent promulgation of the new constitution and the efforts of Nepal in implementing human rights obligations and commitments. The incorporation in the constitution of a large number of human rights issues at an ambitious level makes its implementation a challenging task, he said and added that the Government of Nepal is fully committed to take up these challenges.
He
also
asked
for
the
assistance
from
the
Office
of
the
High
Commissioner
for
Human
Rights
(OHCHR)
towards
strengthening
the
capacities
of
the
various
national
human
rights
institutions
envisaged
by
the
constitution.
He
also
extended
an
invitation
to
the
High
Commissioner
to
visit
Nepal
at
a
convenient
time.
The
High
Commissioner
commended
Nepal’s
participation
in
the
2nd
Universal
Periodic
Review
(UPR)
under
the
leadership
of
the
Deputy
Prime
Minister,
stated
a
press
release
issued
by
Nepal’s
Permanent
Mission
to
UN
in
Geneva
on
Thursday
late
night.
He welcomed the promulgation of an inclusive and democratic constitution by the Constituent Assembly with adequate provisions of human rights and fundamental freedom, and wished for successful implementation of the constitution. The High Commissioner also welcomed the recent election of the first female President in Nepal. He said that the OHCHR would extend all possible support to strengthen the constitutionally provisioned human rights institutions. RSS
