"The establishment of a transitional justice mechanism empowered to provide amnesty to the perpetrators of serious human rights violations and war crimes is contrary to Nepal´s commitments under international law," said Robert Piper, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, "The adoption of the proposed ordinance currently with the president could severely undermine access to justice for victims, and potentially further institutionalize impunity." [break]
The UN´s concern comes three days after the cabinet forwarded the Ordinance on Forming Commission on Disappearance, Truth and Reconciliation to the president for approval.
National human rights organizations have also said that the ordinance does not meet international standards.
"I urge that the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms is done in compliance with international human rights standards and best practices, as reiterated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the National Human Rights Commission as well as Nepali and international human rights organizations," said Piper in a statement.
Similarly, twelve diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu have also said that transitional justice mechanisms should meet international standards and urged the government to ensure that the laws relating to transitional justice mechanisms do not include broad amnesty for serious human rights and international human rights violations.
"We encourage the government of Nepal to take into account the views of the National Human Rights Commission and victims´ groups when finalizing the bills," said the British Embassy in a joint statement issued on behalf of Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
The diplomatic missions issued the statement on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared falling on Thursday.
"We remember the 1,300 or more people who were disappeared during Nepal´s bloody ten-year conflict. To this day their whereabouts and their fate remain unknown and their loved ones continue to seek truth and justice," said the statement.
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