A discussion program among stakeholders on the draft report prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights was held in Lalitpur on June 30. The discussion program was organized with representatives from foreign diplomatic missions, the National Human Rights Commission and other stakeholders to review the draft report, which incorporated suggestions collected through various programs and interactions carried out in different phases by 500 organizations working in Nepal.
Speaking at the discussion program UPR Info, and others, special guest Ambassador of Switzerland Danielle Meuwli stated that the joint efforts made by civil society in Nepal are commendable. The program was attended by the Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, ambassadors from countries including Switzerland and Sri Lanka, as well as representatives from the Human Rights Alliance and various non-governmental organizations.
Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, Suryaprasad Dhungel, stated that the draft report on Nepal’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), prepared through the joint efforts of civil society, has incorporated many of the recommendations made during the third cycle at the United Nations. He further noted that despite this, the government still needs to do more in the areas of the Rights of the Dalits and the rights of the LGBTQ community. He added that the National Human Rights Commission will prepare a report clarifying these issues further.
INSEC Executive Committee member and lawyer Jyoti Baniya stated that the report should also emphasize the intersection of business and human rights. She highlighted that since labor and business are interconnected, it is necessary to address business and human rights together in the future to ensure workers’ rights and job security.
Bhakta Bishwakarma pointed out that the report treats the Dalit community as one group, but the issues faced by Dalits in the Terai and the Hills are different. Therefore, the report should include these differences. He also expressed dissatisfaction that the National Human Rights Commission has not yet created concrete programs with action plans for Dalits and the LGBTQ community.
Bishwakarma emphasized that since the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) will include discussions on the report prepared by the government, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society, issues such as caste-based discrimination and cases related to transitional justice must not be excluded.
Sunita Mainali, Executive Director of WOREC Nepal, stated that the report includes issues concerning LGBTQ, Dalits, marginalized citizens, as well as women and children. She added that since the implementation of laws made by the state has been weak, the report will also put pressure on the government to be held accountable.
At the program, INSEC Executive Director Bijaya Raj Gautam talked about the purpose of the discussion and what the UPR preliminary report includes. He said that the reports prepared by civil society organizations show the real situation in Nepal and will be important in shaping the recommendations given to the government.
At the discussion program, Kapil Aryal, consultant for UPR Info said that the draft was prepared by incorporating suggestions gathered from discussions held in different phases and that a final report would be prepared after this discussion. He also presented the contents of the brief report at the program. The Universal Periodic Review examines reports from 193 countries around the world. According to UN policy, a review is held every four years through a dialogue that discusses the reports submitted by the government and civil society.
