PM reiterates human rights commitment

Kathmandu, Feb. 24

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has reiterated to the international community that Nepal is committed to concluding the transitional justice process in a credible, inclusive and victim-centric manner.

In her virtual address to the 61^st regular session of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva on Monday, as the head of the Nepali delegation, PM Karki said that transitional justice is an integral part of the conclusion of the decade-long armed conflict through a homegrown and nationally-led peace process.

“As a move towards the conclusion of the last mile works of the transitional justice, the government of Nepal reconstituted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons last year,” she said.

In addition, Nepal has been consistently contributing to international peace and security. “Today, Nepal is the number one troop-contributing country in different UN Peacekeeping missions. Through these missions, Nepali women and men have defended peace, protected civilians, and upheld human rights,” stated the Prime Minister Karki.

According to her, this is a critical time and the world is facing several crises— some conventional and some emerging. Climate change, increasing conflicts and severe disasters are to name a few. “And, most importantly, these crises are not stand-alone. They are intertwined and complex,” said the Prime Minister.

She said that Nepal’s national commitment to human rights is still strong and unflinching, and all must uphold the universality of human rights despite several odds and uncertainties.

According to PM Karki, Nepal is committed to protecting and promoting human rights.

Nepal has taken several measures— policy, legal and institutional— to reflect this commitment in practice.

“Now, our priority is to institutionalise human rights and make it a culture - that respects each other, and ensures human dignity and equality, makes the state responsible for protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and fosters decent living without compromising basic needs and services,” she said.

PM Karki also stated that Nepal’s constitution protects the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, Madhesis, Tharus, Muslims, Dalits, marginalised communities, as well as sexual and gender minorities. It upholds rights to education, health, employment, food, and a clean environment, among others.

The country is party to 24 human rights instruments, including seven core human rights conventions and eleven ILO conventions.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 February 2026.