KATHMANDU: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said that the Parliament will always be of help for the protection of human rights.
Addressing a programme organized by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) here on the occasion of the 76th International Human Rights Day, today, he urged the government to be always sensitive in protection of human rights.
“Incidents of human rights violations that took place during the conflict period are referred to when talking about the human rights issues in our country. However, meanwhile, we have successfully established the federal republic Nepal by peacefully resolving the conflict,” he said.
Stating that the topic of guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the labourers and the marginalized communities involved in various stages of the supply chain extending from the production of goods and services to the consumers has become more challenging due to globalization and the unhealthy competition in the open market, Speaker Ghimire stressed on the need of making special initiatives for ensuring their rights.
He said that the laws have been reformed and the process of appointing the office-bearers to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappeared Persons has reached the final stages to investigate the incidents of serious human rights violations during the conflict period and to carry out effectively the works of the two transitional justice mechanisms as per the widely-accepted principles of transitional justice.
“Although the development of information technology has made things easier for human society, the unequal development of technology has resulted in discrimination on its access and use. New problems and challenges have been added in the social and cultural values due to technological development,” the Speaker said, adding that although it is natural technology is used to the maximum for the protection and promotion of human rights, the risk of violation of others’ human rights due to the ICT’s misuse has also become stark.
He said involving oneself honestly in building an equitable society by ending existing class, regional, religious and gender-based discrimination through the country’s socio-economic and cultural transformation on the foundation of political achievements gained from historic movements was the duty and responsibility of all.
Speaker Ghimire mentioned that a policy of proportional representation and positive discrimination has been adopted to ensure the identity of existence, freedom, equality and justice for the oppressed, minority and marginalized communities through the constitution.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Top Bahadur Magar, expressed the belief that all would be involved in protecting human rights in future, stating that the government has made significant efforts for human rights protection.
He urged everyone to build a culture of human rights, adding, “Implementing a rule neglecting the issues—equality, non-discrimination, and human dignity—can not be imagined in today’s world.”
Likewise, Chief Secretary Eaknarayan Aryal stressed that all three tiers of government and constitutional bodies should be involved in protecting human rights.
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