UN experts express concern about situation in Nepal

United Nations (UN) human rights experts have issued a joint statement expressing serious concern over the recent political development in Nepal.

Issuing a joint press communiqué on Wednesday, a group of human rights experts have stressed on the authorities to consider steps to reinstall democratic institutions and to protect Nepali citizens and their representatives as well as human rights defenders.

“We call upon the government of Nepal to reaffirm the basic principles of the rule of law, democracy and supremacy of the constitution, as well as to gurantee basic human rights for all its citizens,” the release said.

The experts include Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Special Rapporteur of Violence against Women, Special Representative of the Secretary General of Human Rights Defenders, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, according to the press communiqué.

Meanwhile, a New York-based rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch, has also expressed concern over reports of what it said ongoing arrests in Nepal in the aftermath of declaration of the state of emergency last week. nepalnews.com pd Feb 10 05