UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/4/97 17 January 2007 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation and the activities of her Office, including technical cooperation, in Nepal Summary* On 16 February 2006, the High Commissioner for Human Rights submitted to the Commission on Human Rights her report on the human rights situation and the activities of her Office, including technical cooperation, in Nepal (E/CN.4/2006/107) covering the period from May 2005 to January 2006. A subsequent report covering the period up to September 2006 was submitted to the General Assembly (A/61/374). The present report, established pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 2/114, looks at the human rights situation in the context of the peace process in Nepal and covers the period up to the beginning of January 2007. With the cessation of hostilities, conflict-related violations ended and the rights to freedom of assembly and expression were largely restored. However, many challenges remain with regard to ending ongoing serious abuses, upholding and strengthening respect for human rights, which must be addressed in the short and long term. Ending impunity for gross human rights violations as well as deep-rooted discrimination and other abuses against marginalized groups are among those challenges. * The report was submitted after the deadline so as to include the most recent developments, including within the Security Council. GE.07-10516 (E) 050307