NHRC directs government to ensure access to justice for torture survivors

Kathmandu / June 26: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued directive to the government to effectively implement national and international commitments and ensure access to justice for torture victims.

In the press release issued today by the commission’s assistant spokesperson Shyam Babu Kafle, the government has been directed to ensure that torture victims have access to justice.

The statement reads, “It seems necessary for the Government of Nepal to make additional efforts to fulfill the country’s national and international obligations by ensuring fair, independent, and effective investigation of torture-related incidents, taking legal action against the guilty, and providing effective treatment, compensation, and rehabilitation to the victims.”

The commission believes that Nepal has not been able to submit the periodic reports to the UN Committee Against Torture, which are required after ratifying the convention against torture, for nearly two decades, and questions about torture have been raised in international forums, and that victims have not been able to experience justice.

“The implementation of the recommendations made by the commission to the government for the protection and promotion of the rights of torture victims is not satisfactory. This year, monitoring of detention and prisons has shown that managing the prisoners above capacity, especially improvements in water, sanitation, toilets and internal management within prisons, has not been possible, making the enforcement of rights against torture still challenging,” the commission said.

The commission has stated that the implementation of suggestions and recommendations from UN mechanisms outside the commission for the protection of the rights of torture victims is also unsatisfactory, and most victims of torture in armed conflicts have not been able to receive compensation.

On the occasion of International Day (June 26) in Support of Torture Victims, the commission has also made An earnest request to the Government of Nepal and all relevant bodies to effectively implement zero tolerance against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, punishment or abuse, and to respect, protect, and promote the rights of torture victims.(RSS)