Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that the focus should be on transitional justice for the victims and for their dignified life by taking care of their economic, social, and cultural rights.
He made the remarks at the launch of the “Nepal Human Rights Year Book 2021” organized by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) on February 19.
Minister Gyawali stressed the need to find a solution for transitional justice in Nepal by taking into account the spirit of the peace agreement, international commitment, the verdict of the Supreme Court, the sentiments of the victims, and the political realities.
Minister Gyawali said that the election was the only solution to end the political distortion by establishing political stability and values as there was no alternative to the election even though it did not seem right for the government to dissolve the parliament.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that INSEC has continuously made a special contribution in the human rights campaign of Nepal in educating the citizens and holding the state accountable. He said that the implementation of human rights could not be achieved unless the constitution and the law ensured human rights. He said that the government was committed to fully guarantee human rights in Nepal despite the lack of resources.
Minister Gyawali said that even the developed countries have followed the assurance of gender participation achieved by Nepal, worrying that the achievements gained by exaggerating the shortage may be lost.
Minister Gyawali was of the view that our culture was exemplary even though 81 percent of the people in Nepal believed in one religion and no one interfered in declaring it a secular country.
Pointing out the need for common discussion to reduce the incidence of violence and sexual abuse against women and children in Nepal, he stressed the need to create awareness among all individuals, families, and communities to create an environment conducive to human rights.
Speaking on the occasion, INSEC Founder Chairperson and former Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission and former Advisor to the President Sushil Pyakurel said that the cooperation between Nepal’s political parties, civil society, and the government has increased the confidence in Nepal in the eyes of the world.
He said that the inclusion of the views of the government, the judiciary, the police, and the Nepal Army in the Nepal Human Rights Year Book has added positive energy.
Pyakurel also stressed that the state should be more accountable for the future of Nepal as women and children are suffering more from human rights violations despite the reduction in torture by the state.
Pyakurel, the founding chairperson of INSEC, said that it would be easier to study 29 series of Nepal Human Rights Year Book for planning.
He stressed the need for all sectors to pay attention to the solution of the problems of the conflict victims in Nepal as the image of Nepal in the international arena would be tarnished if the transitional justice in Nepal is not looked at in a practical way.
Subodh Raj Pyakurel, the vice-chairperson of the policy and planning commission of Province 1 and outgoing chairperson of INSEC, recalled that INSEC representatives had collected on-site data on human rights violations.
He expressed the belief that the yearbook could be made more reliable by using data apps using technology to track the facts of human rights violations.
Recalling the past of civil society warning the state, Vice-Chairperson Pyakurel said that the INSEC representative has been working for the justice of the victims.
Arguing that anger and dilemma lead to violence, he stressed the need to be sensitive about the fact that the conflict victims have not received justice for 14 years.
Bandana Rana, a member of the United Nations CEDAW Committee, recalled the reluctance of women to speak out in 1991 when they were collecting voices on the human rights situation.
She reminded that the justice system needs to be reformed, adding that health care is not adequate, third genders in Nepal are facing problems and women’s meaningful participation is lacking.
She said that the release of the Human Rights Year Book by INSEC after evaluating and reviewing the situation of human rights was an example of cooperation between the government and civil society.
Pointing out the need for transitional justice in the field of human rights in Nepal, Rana stressed the need to make women feel safe by working abroad.
INSEC’s Chairperson Dr. Indira Shrestha said that INSEC has succeeded in bringing Nepal Human Rights Year Book 2021 since 1992.
Chairperson Shrestha expressed concern over the fact that the issue of transitional justice remained the same even after 14 years of the end of the armed conflict.
She said that the Nepal Human Rights Year Book would help in raising awareness of the accountability of the state.
Pointing out the need to balance the human rights situation in Nepal in accordance with international practice, Nepal’s constitution, and law, he elaborated on the efforts made by the three organs of the state, the judiciary, the executive, and the legislature, for the protection and promotion of human rights.
INSEC Executive Director Bijay Raj Gautam said that INSEC has been publishing Nepal Human Rights Year Book since 1992 and completed its 29th series by 2021.
According to INSEC records, 5,543 people have been victims of human rights violations and abuses in 2020.
