A/HRC/10/53
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on human rights and the Constitution, bringing together key organizations, including the NHRC,
to coordinate assistance to the constitutional process. In cooperation with the United Nations
Country Team, OHCHR Nepal supports a resource centre for both Assembly members and the
public to increase access to expert services and public awareness related to the Constitution.
4. Security forces
62. OHCHR Nepal continued training and awareness-raising activities with the Nepal Police
(NP) and Armed Police Force (APF), focusing particularly on human rights standards pertaining
to law enforcement and the rule of law. In 2008, in-house capacity was developed through
training of trainers, both within the NP and APF. In 2008, APF officials trained and monitored
by OHCHR Nepal in cooperation with the International Committee of Red Cross and NHRC,
conducted five training programmes for 167 APF officials. In addition, OHCHR Nepal
contributed to predeployment training for 60 APF officials assigned to United Nations Peace
Operations. Substantive advice was provided for the development of an APF human rights
pocketbook, which is in the final stage of production. OHCHR Nepal also provided five human
rights training courses for 170 Nepal Army officials.
5. Reporting obligations to international treaty bodies
63. Nepal has ratified six of the core international human rights instruments. Human rights
defenders have advocated strongly for ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, which Nepal signed on 3 January 2008, and for Nepal to become State party to
the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of Their Families, as well as the Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court.
64. The long transition period has contributed to delays in Government reports to
United Nations treaty bodies. Reports to the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women and the Committee Against Torture are overdue. Initial reports under the two
Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child have yet to be submitted.
Engaging with relevant treaty bodies will assist the country in meeting the international
obligations it has endorsed. OHCHR Nepal provided four days of training for Government
officials on reporting to United Nations treaty bodies. Moreover, specialized trainings on the
human rights treaty body system, including relevant reporting procedures and complaint
mechanisms, were provided to representatives of Government and civil society in all five
regions.
IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
65. The human rights situation in Nepal has improved significantly since the conflict
ended and important steps were taken in 2008 to consolidate the peace process. The people
of Nepal voted for peace and change in April 2008. A mixed system ensured that the
Constituent Assembly is much more reflective of Nepal’s diverse society than any previous
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