Deuba urges int'l community to elect Nepal to UNHRC

Kathmandu, Sept. 24: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had urged the international community to recognize Nepal’s long commitment and contribution to human rights by electing it to the UN Human Rights Council.

“Nepal's first-ever election to the Council would be the recognition of our long commitment and contributions in the field of human rights and an encouragement to do more at national as well as global levels,” he said while addressing the 72^nd Session of the United Nation’s General Assembly in New York on Saturday evening.

Nepal is a party to 24 international human rights instruments and has been fulfilling its international obligations with all sincerity.

According to the PM, Nepal views the right to life as the most important of all human rights. Nepal’s constitution bans death penalty in all circumstances. As a party to 24 international human rights instruments, including 7 out of 9 core instruments, Nepal has been fulfilling its international obligations with all sincerity, and to the best of its ability.

PM Deuba sought the support of all member states to Nepal’s candidature.

He updated the international community that the constitution of Nepal accommodated aspirations of all of its citizens, and it guaranteed a comprehensive set of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.

“We are fully committed to the promotion and protection of those rights and their full enjoyment by our people,” he said.

He stressed on the need for protection of minorities and their rights and called for the safety, security, dignity and well-being of all migrant workers. 

“Although not a party to the Refugee Convention and its Protocol, Nepal has earnestly upheld humanitarian principles by hosting thousands of refugees. We call upon the international community to respond responsibly and act decisively for refugees’ right to return to their homeland in safety and dignity and rapid rehabilitation under all circumstances,” he said.

PM Deuba said that the money used in buying armaments should be utilized in supporting the poor countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Path to peace and decent life for all will remain elusive without resources and commitment for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. A very small fraction of trillions of dollars spent in armament can help the countries in need to attain these goals,” he said.

According to him, delivery on commitments, inclusive process, coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities backed by adequate resources are essential to secure sustainable future and ensure that no one is left behind. 

He also highlighted Nepal’s development priorities in the Assembly.

He said that after years of political transition, Nepal had embarked on the path to prosperity.

Aligned with economic, social and environmental pillars of the SDGs, Nepal's development priorities will be framed around the imperative of generating, sharing and sustaining broad-based prosperity, he said.

The PM demanded the fair opportunities to all troop and police contributing countries to serve in the leadership positions both in the field and at the headquarters of the international peace-keeping mission.

He informed the UN member countries that Nepal had been a host to a world class peace-keeping training centre, the oldest in the region.

“The UN can make the best use of this facility and help develop it as a regional centre of excellence for peacekeeping training,” said Deuba.

Nepal has contributed over 130,000 peace keepers in some of the most challenging locations around the world.

He also shared that the successful conclusion of decade long armed conflict in Nepal had firmly established the culture of dialogue and accommodation which could serve as a model for similar situation elsewhere.

He sought reliable and sustainable financing, partnerships, and technology transfer to overcome the structural impediments in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked LDCs.