Sundh calls for independent, effective and inclusive NHRC

The chief of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)-Nepal Lena Sundh has said that there is a need to set up an independent, effective and inclusive National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Government talks team leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, UN Secretary General's Personal Representative to Nepal, Ian Martin and Maoist talks team leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara (from left to right) in the signing ceremony of the tripartite agreement in Kathmandu, Friday, Dec 08 06. nepalnews.com/rh

"The peace process which has just begun to take root needs an independent, inclusive and effective NHRC to monitor, investigate and report human rights abuses," said Sundh, addressing a program on the "Role of NHRC" organized on the eve of International Human Rights Day.

Sundh added that aI strong national human rights institution is needed to provide moral leadership and expertise on human rights issues and to provide a voice for the impoverished, marginalized and exploited in society.

She said that the establishment of OHCHR could never substitute a strong, independent and effective NHRC.

Earlier today, Sundh along with the UN Resident Coordinator Matthew Kahane and key international donors, in their meeting with the Prime Minister, emphasized the need to appoint independent and representative Commissioners without further delay in a transparent and consultative process in line with the Paris Principles that takes into account the views of civil society.

Stating that the absence of an effective and independent NHRC following the appointments made by the Palace in May 2005 in a closed process that lacked any consultation or transparency, had left a significant gap in the human rights community in Nepal, Sundh said that the work and impact of OHCHR-Nepal over the last year would have been enhanced by an active and credible human rights commission.

"In that vein, OHCHR-Nepal has welcomed the proposal to establish the Commission as a constitutional body. OHCHR-Nepal also welcomes many of the new provisions in that chapter of the draft interim constitution that would enhance the expert membership of the Commission and the process for their selection," she said.

Sundh, however, added that the formation of new Commission must be preceded by transparent and consultative process whereby new Commissioners will be selected not on the basis of political affiliation. nepalnews.com sd Dec 08 06