Delegates from nearly 50 countries from around the world grilled Nepali officials in Geneva on Tuesday and expressed their concerns regarding what they said the overall situation of impunity in the country.

“The international community has come together during Tuesday’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Nepal to highlight growing concerns about impunity in the country and call for the government to address the worrying situation,” said Oliver Spencer, advocacy officer at the ARTICLE 19, a London-based group advocating freedom of expression. “Impunity was by far the most repeated issue during the Review and many delegations referred to continuous attacks against media workers and human rights defenders in Nepal.”

The delegations of the Czech Republic, Canada, France and US each recommended the government of Nepal specifically safeguard the security of journalists and implement adequate measures for the protection and investigation of crimes against journalists and human rights defenders.

The Czech Republic called for the proper investigation and prosecution in the precedent creating case of the killing of female reporter Uma Singh in 2009. Norway also recommended the government investigate attacks against women journalists and prosecute the perpetrators.

France urged the government address the difficulties in enforcing the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and information, in line with the recommendations made by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stakeholders report, to which ARTICLE 19 contributed.

The issue of impunity was also raised by the delegations from Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland and the UK.

The UK and Denmark recommended that the government of Nepal tackle impunity by creating an independent police commission responsible for all transfers and promotions, in order to end political interference in police duties through the threat of demotion or quick transfer. Delegations from Cambodia, the Maldives, Italy and Chile urged the government to invite all Special Mandates to Nepal on a regular basis.

In response, the government of Nepal pledged to tackle impunity and address the human rights concerns of delegates. The government was unwilling to accept the role of the Nepali Army in the continuation of widespread impunity, such as their protection of army personnel indicted by Nepali courts, arguing that the Nepali Army are fully supportive of human rights and any issues are not supported by policy.

The Nepal delegation is being led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala.

During the last UPR held in Geneva in 2005, the then royal government had agreed to allow OHCHR to open its offices in Kathmandu.
Source:nepalnews.com