Freedom Forum has been worried over the downgraded status of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal.
The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) based in Geneva downgraded the NHRC status to ‘B’.
GANHRI decided to downgrade the NHRC in the wake of the questions being raised over the unconstitutional appointment of the Chairperson and Members of NHRC.
The KP Sharma Oli-led government had appointed the Chairperson and Members of NHRC, breaching the constitution two years back. Even the writ petition filed against such a move of the government has been pending at Supreme Court since then.
Similarly, the KP Oli-led government made attempt to curtail the role of NHRC while amending the NHRC Act, which too must have contributed to the point in downgrading NHRC.
Freedom Forum takes this backsliding of NHRC seriously and urges all stakeholders, including the government and political parties to be serious to restore the NHRC status so that Nepal’s human rights image can be boosted at home and in the international arena.
Executive Chief of FF, Taranath Dahal, observed, “Downgrading of NHRC is a blot on Nepal’s principle human rights monitoring body. Question on credibility of NHRC also questions the system. NHRC must therefore revive its image of an independent rights watch body. Government must stop its efforts to limit NHRC jurisdiction. Breaching rights body’s jurisdiction is not acceptable in a democracy.”
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