[ad_1]
(London) – NepalThe new government should seize the opportunity to advance human rights, including Transitional Justice and social SecurityHuman Rights Watch said in a report letter To Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli on August 6, 2024. The government should also take action to protect the rights of migrant workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people people.
On July 15, Oli assumed the office of prime minister for the third time after his Unified Marxist-Leninist Party and the Nepali Congress reached a new coalition agreement. The new government continued negotiations initiated by the previous government to pass legislation to establish a transitional justice process to resolve Serious atrocities committed during the 1996-2006 civil war.
“Nepal’s political leaders have made progress toward a credible transitional justice process, but success depends on legislation that meets the standards of Nepal’s Supreme Court and international law,” he said. Meenakshi GangulyDeputy Director of the Asia Division at Human Rights Watch. “The government should agree on amendments to the flawed transitional justice bill and then submit it to parliament for approval immediately.”
In October 2023, the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres said Nepal is closer than ever to launching a meaningful transitional justice process and has pledged assistance to the United Nations.
The Transitional Justice Bill contains provisions guaranteeing the rights and entitlements of victims’ families to compensation. Enforced disappearance The bill mandates a truth and reconciliation commission to study the root causes and impacts of the conflict and recommend institutional reforms. Major revisions needed If it is to ensure the victims’ right to justice.
A recent report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur The Transitional Justice Commission said that allocating adequate resources is key to guaranteeing the independence of transitional justice mechanisms. Human Rights Watch said donor funds should be managed responsibly to preserve the independence of future transitional justice institutions.
Nepal has made significant achievements in protecting people’s right to social security, including through the Child Grant Scheme, which lead to It increased birth registration, improved access to food, and reduced the likelihood that recipients and their siblings would engage in child labor. Research programme The popular child benefit scheme has increased public support for the government.
However, despite the fact that approximately 40% of Nepal’s population is under the age of 18, children receive only around 4% of the government’s social protection budget. Child grants are approved by: Many Nepali civil society organizations and international policy experts, including UNICEFthis International Monetary Fundthis World Bank,as well as European Unionbut currently only 9.5% of Nepali children have access to this service. Successive governments have failed to fulfill their promise to expand the program nationwide. In April 2023, 16 Nepali and international Civil Society organize Letter to Nepal’s Minister of Finance Urge expansion of child benefit program.
The government should take concrete steps to expand the child grant to all regions and increase the monthly grant amount with the ultimate goal of providing adequate monthly income for all Nepalese families with children, Human Rights Watch said.
The government should also take action to protect Nepali migrant workers by signing bilateral labor agreements with destination countries that include strong provisions for responsible recruitment, wage protections, access to health care, occupational health and safety, and access to justice. Human Rights Watch also urged the government to ensure that Nepali embassies in destination countries have adequate resources to support workers who have experienced abuse.
Nepal’s achievements in advancing LGBT rights have been widely recognized. Especially through A series of milestones Supreme Court DecisionHowever, authorities have failed to properly implement the ruling, in part due to a lack of comprehensive legislation. The government should submit legislation recognizing marriage equality to parliament. It should also issue a directive stating that transgender Nepalese can change their legal name and gender to male, female or other without undergoing medical verification.
“Prime Minister Oli has an opportunity to seize the moment and make significant gains on key human rights issues, but the government needs to sustain its efforts and work closely with victims’ groups, human rights organizations, and other partners,” Ganguly said. “Donor governments and the United Nations should prepare strong and adequate plans to support a Nepal-led process.”
[ad_2]
Source link
