ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS REITERATES CALL ON PARTIES IN NEPAL TO SIGN HUMAN RIGHTS ACCORD

6 February 2004





Bertrand Ramcharan, acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued the following statement today:

The acting High Commissioner for Human Rights takes note of recent initiatives and public statements in support of an early signing of the Human Rights Accord proposed by the National Human Rights Commission in Nepal.

In this regard, the acting High Commissioner expresses his concern at the increasing number of reports of human rights violations since the breakdown of the ceasefire. He wishes to reiterate his call on both parties to sign urgently the Human Rights Accord, as a mark of their commitment to international human rights and humanitarian law. The implementation of the Accord would help to protect civilians and could build confidence between the parties.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stands ready to provide technical assistance to support the National Human Rights Commission in carrying out its role to monitor and verify the implementation of the Human Rights Accord, once it is signed.