Kathmandu  / November 6: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa pledged Nepal government’s commitment to further promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the citizens with equality, equity and justice.

Deputy Prime Minister Thapa made the commitment in a meeting with the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein at his office in Palais Wilson, Geneva on Thursday. Sharing views on the overall situation of human rights in Nepal, Thapa highlighted salient features of the new constitution of Nepal terming it as most democratic and inclusive in nature.

On the occasion, views were exchanged on the recent promulgation of the new constitution and the efforts of Nepal in implementing human rights obligations and commitments. The incorporation in the constitution of a large number of human rights issues at an ambitious level makes its implementation a challenging task, he said and added that the Government of Nepal is fully committed to take up these challenges.

He also asked for the assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) towards strengthening the capacities of the various national human rights institutions envisaged by the constitution.
He also extended an invitation to the High Commissioner to visit Nepal at a convenient time.  The High Commissioner commended Nepal’s participation in the 2nd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister, stated a press release issued by Nepal’s Permanent Mission to UN in Geneva on Thursday late night.

He welcomed the promulgation of an inclusive and democratic constitution by the Constituent Assembly with adequate provisions of human rights and fundamental freedom, and wished for successful implementation of the constitution.

The High Commissioner also welcomed the recent election of the first female President in Nepal.
He said that the OHCHR would extend all possible support to strengthen the constitutionally provisioned human rights institutions. RSS