South Asia

Right check:The government of Nepal and the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reached an agreement on April 11, 2005 over an international monitoring mechanism to protect human rights in Nepal. The step is a compromise by both parties. Nepal had been staunchly opposing any kind of international monitoring of the human rights situation in the country while the international community, specially the EU, insisted on appointing a UN Special Rapporteur on Nepal for the purpose.

The agreement was perfectly timed; just a few hours before a highly critical resolution against Nepal was to be tabled at the 61st session of UN Commission for Human Rights (CHR) in Geneva. As per the agreement, the OHCHR will set up an office in Nepal and will also advise and assist the country's National Human Rights Commission in discharging its duties. The agreement will be valid for two years and can be extended through mutual consent.