NEPAL: UN HELPS FIGHTS AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION

The United Nations is stepping up its efforts to help protect the rights of Nepalese women, who are increasingly victims of rape, witch-hunt, dowry, and other forms of gender-based violence as well as deeply entrenched domestic abuse and discrimination.

The UN human rights office in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) and National Women's Commission (NWC) has just completed a joint Strategy Development Workshop to address key concerns and identify specific activities for future cooperation.

"The NWC has a vital role to play in the empowerment of women in Nepal and in ensuring women's access to justice in Nepal," OHCHR-Nepal Deputy Representative Jyoti Sanghera said at the conclusion of the workshop yesterday in Kathmandu, the capital.

"OHCHR-Nepal looks forward to a fruitful collaboration with the NWC, together with the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) and civil society, in these endeavours to strengthen women's rights."

Ms. Sanghera handed over a variety of human rights books, audio-visual materials, and reports published by OHCHR-Nepal to NWC Chairperson Nainakala Thapa, enabling the Commission to establish a human rights resource centre at its headquarters for use by its staff members and civil society partners.

The initiative is part of a series of ongoing collaborative efforts to promote gender justice. In June, OHCHR-Nepal conducted a two-day human rights training with NWC, focusing on human rights indicators.
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INCREASED VIOLENCE COULD DERAIL PEACE PROCESS IN NEPAL, UN CAUTIONS

The United Nations human rights office in Nepal today expressed its concern that increased violence by political parties and affiliated groups, as well as subsequent retaliation threats, could jeopardize the peace process in the South Asian nation.

"I appeal to all leaders to ensure that their members refrain from violence and threatening speech, and respect the commitments made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including to respect human rights," said Richard Bennett, Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal).

That 2006 pact ended the conflict between forces loyal to the former King of Nepal and Maoists in 2006.

In a press release, OHCHR-Nepal called on the leaders of political parties and groups allied to them to "ensure that their cadres respect the rights of other political parties to peacefully carry out their lawful activities."

It added that should incidents occur, all groups should press for respecting the rule of law, including cooperating with the Nepal Police to ensure that investigations are carried out promptly and that those responsible are brought to justice, instead of issuing threats or retaliating.

Yesterday, the Office released its "Handbook for Civil Society" which seeks to help people in Nepal understand, access and use national and international human rights mechanisms.

Mr. Bennett said at the publication's launch yesterday in the capital, Kathmandu, that OHCHR-Nepal's mandate has been extended for three months, during which the Office will continue its monitoring, advocacy and intervention with authorities.
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Nepal: Victims Await Justice From New Government

The Maoist-led Nepali government should make accountability for human rights abuses before, during, and after the conflict in Nepal an urgent priority, Human Rights Watch and the Nepal-based Advocacy Forum said today in a letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The groups urged the prime minister to ensure that members of security forces and of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) responsible for large-scale "disappearances" are held accountable, including through criminal prosecutions.

The letter was released during the March session of the UN Human Rights Council where a delegation of victims is due to give testimony before the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

Nepal had the largest number of "disappearances" in recent years among countries reporting to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances. In December 2008, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) made public findings of its investigations into 156 cases of enforced disappearances in Bardiya district, most of which occurred between December 2001 and January 2003.

"In spite of promises of a new Nepal, the government has not taken meaningful action on 'disappearances' and other gross human rights violations," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Those responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and other serious abuses should be investigated and prosecuted. Now is the time for the prime minister to live up to his promises and hold perpetrators accountable."

In September 2008, Human Rights Watch and Advocacy Forum released a report, "Waiting for Justice: Unpunished Crimes from Nepal's Armed Conflict," which examined in detail the state's response to 48 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in relation to 62 cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and rape by security forces between 2002 and 2006.

Both organizations expressed their disappointment at the government's failure to table the Disappearance Bill for debate in parliament, passing it by ordinance without public input or debate.

"We welcomed the disappearances bill, as it is a hopeful step on the road to accountability," said Mandira Sharma, director of Advocacy Forum. "But we are deeply disappointed that the government chose to avoid a national debate on such a central issue. The bill needs to meet international standards to have any chance of success."

NEPAL: UN CALLS FOR END TO VIOLENCE BY ALL SIDES IN CHITWAN PROTESTS

NEPAL: UN CALLS FOR END TO VIOLENCE BY ALL SIDES IN CHITWAN PROTESTS
New York, Mar 6 2009 10:00AM

The top United Nations human rights official in Nepal is urging all sides in the troubled Chitwan district to exercise restraint and to resolve their differences through dialogue, following the deaths of two protesters and a policeman in the past two days.

"I have spoken with the Government, the police and representatives of some protesting groups, and voiced my concerns about violent protests and the use of lethal force," said Richard Bennett, representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal).

"OHCHR-Nepal is extremely concerned about the use of live ammunition by police," the Office added, saying that one person was reportedly killed and several others injured, three critically, after police fired live ammunition in the Tandi area on the night of 5 March. A curfew has since been declared in the local municipality.

While police claimed they fired in self-defence after protests turned violent, OHCHR-Nepal is stressing that firearms must not be used in policing demonstrations unless there is a very serious threat to life and only once all other methods have been exhausted.

The Office is also extremely concerned at reports that two members of the Armed Police Force (APF) were attacked by protesters with khukuris (large knives) during a demonstration on 6 March. One constable has since died and the other is seriously injured.

"OHCHR-Nepal reiterates its call for thorough and independent investigations into all killings which have occurred," the Office said.

An estimated 13,000 people lost their lives in Nepal during a decade-long civil war that came to an end when the Government and Maoists signed a peace deal in 2006, leading to landmark elections last year.
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