NEW UN STUDY EXAMINES HUNGER SEVERITY WITHIN NEPAL

Hunger rates are most severe in the western regions of Nepal, which already ranks near the bottom of the global hunger index, according to a new report by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which is examining food insecurity levels within the South Asian nation.

According to the global hunger index (GHI) developed by the non-governmental organization (NGO) known as the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Nepal ties with Laos for 57th out of 88 countries, with a score of 20.6. Countries with levels under five, such as those in Western Europe, are considered to have low levels of hunger and are not included in the rankings.

The new WFP study found that levels were close to or topped 30 in the Far- and Mid-Western Hill and Mountain regions of Nepal, "pointing to an extremely alarming situation."

In particular, the score of 40.17 for the Mid-Western Mountain area is only slig
htly better than the 42.7 level for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has the worst GHI in the world.

Most of the country's 15 sub-regions fall within the alarming category, and none are categorized as either moderate or low-hunger. "This underscores the seriousness of the food security situation in Nepal," WFP said.

The assessment pointed to undernourishment, high percentages of underweight children, poverty, economic activity, agricultural productivity and access to health services driving hunger scores down.

While boosting economic growth is urgently needed, that alone is not enough, WFP warned.

"There is an urgent need to invest solidly in direct nutrition interventions to address the huge issue of child malnutrition," the agency stressed. "This includes investing in the health sector, increasing nutritional awareness, improving behavioural practices such as hand washing, breast feeding and water treatment, and providing access to proper sanitation facilities
to rural populations."
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NEPAL HAS MIXED RECORD IN TRANSITION FROM WAR TO PEACE, UN REPORT FINDS

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stressed the importance of deepening democracy and strengthening the rule of law in Nepal, in a report on the country's transition from war to peace, released in Kathmandu today.

"Nepal is in transition from conflict to peace and from authoritarian rule to democracy, and has the chance to redefine both the nation and the State," the 2009 Nepal Human Development Report</I> says.

"It is an opportunity for political 'transformation', to root out age-old practices by ensuring equality, justice and a greater voice for excluded groups. Deepening democracy and strengthening the rule of law are critical in order to give peace a chance of success."

The report notes that the underlying causes of 10 years of conflict in Nepal have not been resolved, and nor have the consequences been addressed. It calls for efforts to deal with the effects of this divided past, which include poverty and discrimination on the basis of caste and ethnicity, and an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 displaced people who have not yet returned home.

The report adds that while Nepal has made some gains in human development, the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged regions and caste or ethnic groups is widening or remains the same. Literacy rates for Dalits remain significantly lower than those for Brahmins and Chettris. Similarly, the survival chances of children aged under five from the Dalit and other marginalized communities are lower than those of children born to advantaged castes.

"Successive Human Development Reports have documented Nepal's profoundly uneven development patterns," said UNDP Resident Representative Robert Piper as he launched the report.

"Today's report indicates these patterns remain largely intact despite important progress on a number of nation-wide indicators. The message in this report is that the 'absence of war' will alone neither assure a lasting peace nor deliver prosperity. Nepal's ambitious post-conflict transformation must successfully address centuries of discrimination and exclusion so these patterns are broken for ever."

The 2009 Nepal Human Development Report is the fourth in a series of reports that have provided an analytical framework for Nepal's progress on key human development indicators and the challenges that the country faces in improving the quality of life of its people.
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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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UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR NEPAL

The top United Nations human rights official today voiced her continued support for Nepal as it rebuilds after a decade-long civil war, with the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the South Asian nation being extended until next year.

In her letter to the Nepalese Government confirming her acceptance of that agreement, High Commissioner Navi Pillay wrote that OHCHR "remains strongly committed to further strengthen the national human rights protection system, in particular the National Human Rights Commission, through continued cooperation and capacity building," according to a press release issued in Kathmandu.

The Office's mandate is now set to expire on 9 June 2010.

Last weekend, a new UN-backed project was launched to help heal the scars left by Nepal's civil war, using transitional justice mechanisms to spur reconciliation.

The "Peace through Justice" initiative, financed through a $2 million grant from the UN Peace Fund for Nepal (UNPFN), seeks to aid in setting up effective transitional justice systems provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the 2006 pact ended the conflict between forces loyal to the former King of Nepal and Maoists.

OHCHR said that "a systematic approach to dealing with the past can help societies heal and work their way back to normality. Establishing the facts of the conflict, acknowledging the losses suffered by the victims and providing a platform for justice helps end impunity and aids reconciliation."

The project, which will run initially for 12 months, will support the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR) to set up bodies, such as the Commission on Inquiry on Disappearances, and will focus on documenting human rights and international humanitarian law violations committed during the conflict, which claimed some 13,000 lives.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his latest report on Nepal's request for UN assistance in support of the peace process, wrote that progress on key elements in Nepal's peace process has slowed down or stalled altogether owing to the country's recent political crisis.

"The two major tasks at the current stage of the peace process are the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist army personnel and the drafting of the new constitution," he said, noting that efforts to advance on both these fronts slowed with the onset of the crisis sparked by the resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ("Prachanda") in early May, which occurred one day after the Chief of Army Staff – who he had fired – was reinstated.

A senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML), Madhav Kumar Nepal, was elected Prime Minister on 23 May and subsequently formed a new coalition Government with the support of 21 other political parties but without the participation of the Maoists.

"The modest progress witnessed in some aspects of the peace process during the first quarter of 2009 has stalled against a backdrop of mistrust and a further deterioration of relations among key stakeholders, notably between UCPN-M [Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist] and the other major parties and between UCPN-M and the Nepal Army," says the Secretary-General, proposing a six-month extension of the United Nations mission to continue assisting with remaining tasks.
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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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More Than 3 Million People Suffer From Food Crisis In Nepal: Report.

"A crucial government report has reckoned that 40 percent of the population in the mountain and hill districts [of Nepal]... is suffering through a severe food crisis. The numbers affected, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC), stands at 3.35 million, out a total of 8.4 million people living in these areas. A report released by the MoAC on Wednesday has stated that Nepal is running short of 132,916 tons of food grains, and this despite the rise in rice and maize production, by 5.2 percent and 2.8 percent this year respectively, compared to last year...." [Xinhua/Factiva]

Voice of America adds that "...the ongoing political instability is hard felt in a food-deficit country that is already vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition....World Food Program (WFP) Country Director Richard Ragan says Nepal's recent political chaos has 'thrown fuel on the fire,' in a country already suffering from massive food shortages. Recent parliamentary disruption has the WFP working overtime to find non-governmental ways to continue to feed two million of Nepal's most needy citizens...." [Voice of America/Factiva]

In related news, Trend News Agency reports that "...UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Member States to agree on a set of decisions that will revitalize agriculture, support small farmers and promote food security for all.... The international community, he said, must offer short-term emergency measures to meet critical needs. But it must also make longer-term investments to promote food production and agricultural development, enhance food security and maintain and accelerate momentum towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)...." [Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan)/Factiva]

IMPUNITY FOR RIGHTS ABUSES COULD DERAIL NEPAL'S PEACE PROCESS, WARNS UN OFFICIAL

IMPUNITY FOR RIGHTS ABUSES COULD DERAIL NEPAL'S PEACE PROCESS, WARNS UN OFFICIAL
New York, Mar 22 2009 4:00PM

The United Nations human rights chief warned today that Nepal's peace process could be at risk unless justice is ensured for victims of past and ongoing abuses.

During her five-day visit to Nepal, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay met several families whose loved ones were victims of serious rights violations, both during and after the decade-long civil war that claimed some 13,000 lives before it ended in 2006.

"Human rights were violated in these cases in Nepal, and under international law the State has a responsibility to ensure that the families obtain truth and justice," she told a news conference in the capital, Kathmandu.

"The demands of victims' families are not mere wishes they are supported by law," she stressed. "And until these demands for justice are fulfilled and accountability for past, and in particular ongoing, violations is ensured, a truly new Nepal will not emerge, and indeed, the peace process could be jeopardised."

The civil conflict came to an end in 2006 with the signing of a peace accord between the Government and Maoists, with the parties also agreeing to set up of a commission on disappearances and a truth and reconciliation commission.

In voicing her support for the establishment of a disappearance commission, Ms. Pillay emphasized that it must not be a "token body." Rather, victims should be consulted in the process of setting it up and it should be given all the protection and powers by Parliament to make it meaningful.

The High Commissioner also voiced her alarm at the detention and "arbitrary action" taken against many journalists in the South Asian nation. She urged the Government to take concrete steps to ensure the security of human rights defenders, including journalists, "who are the first line in defence of the human rights of all Nepalis."

In addition to victims of human rights violations and families of victims, Ms. Pillay also held discussions with Government officials, including the President and Prime Minister, as well as members of human rights bodies, civil society, the diplomatic corps and the UN system. She also travelled outside the capital to Janakpur in the central Terai region.

The High Commissioner hailed the progress Nepal has made since the conflict ended, while encouraging it to grasp the "historic opportunity" to prove itself as a leader in implementing its human rights commitments.

"Above all, the Nepalese people, who have suffered long years of deprivation and denial as a result of the conflict, are entitled to have their human rights respected and fulfilled," she said.

Ms. Pillay added that she is seeking a three-year extension of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal). "I believe the work of my Office will support Nepal's efforts to address the remaining challenges of the peace process and the human rights issues that were both a cause and a consequence of the conflict."

This is the High Commissioner's first visit to Asia, and she is now in India for a two-day visit, during which she will meet with the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of Home Affairs, as well as with other senior Government officials and members of the judiciary. She will also give a keynote lecture, hosted by India's National Human Rights Commission.

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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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