THT Online
Kathmandu, May 27:
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the parliament to increase penalty for those involved in forced disappearances.
The OHCHR-Nepal also demanded that time period for filing disappearance cases in court be extended, taking into account extreme seriousness of the crime. It also suggested the government to provide adequate reparations to victims dependants of disappeared persons and immediate family.
The "Disappearance Bill", which has been pending in the parliament, should explicitly state that civilian courts will have jurisdiction over all persons alleged to have committed forced disappearances, including Nepalese Army personnel, the OHCHR-Nepal said in a statement.
International human rights standards require that ordinary civilian courts exercise jurisdiction over military personnel, who commit serious human rights violations.
"Forced disappearance is amongst the most serious human rights violations, and extremely traumatic for family members of the victims. The criminalisation of forced disappearance is an encouraging step towards bringing perpetrators to justice," Lena Sundh, the representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal, said in the statement.
"However, a comprehensive law on forced disappearance, which encompasses relevant international human rights standards, will be an even stronger indication that the government of Nepal is serious about ending impunity and ensuring accountability."