NHRC urges govt action to improve human rights situation

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Kedar Nath Upadhaya and other commissioners met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Friday, drawing the latter's attention towards the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.

The NHRC team also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister which highlights human rights violations taking place around the country on a daily basis, especially in the Terai region, and the culture of impunity prevailing in the country due to failure to bring the human rights violators to justice. There are challenges in protecting human rights because of lack of progress in ending impunity, the NHRC said.

The rights body in the memo also drew the government's attention to the need for protection of the rights of deprived sections of the society like those displaced by the armed conflict, Haliyas (land tillers) and landless squatters, and provide them relief aid. The NHRC also called for measures to stop the shutdown strikes and traffic blockades that have become a order of the day of late.

During the interaction which took place at the Prime Minister's Office in Singha Durbar, the NHRC commissioners suggested the Prime Minister to consult with the commission before introducing human rights related legislations in the parliament.

In reply, PM Nepal said the government was committed to rule of law and human rights and that ending impunity and maintaining law and order were its priorities. nepalnews.com June 26 09