Nepal has formally put its candidature for the UN Human Rights Council for the 2018-20 term.

While addressing the 34th session of the UNHRC in Geneva on Tuesday, Mahat formally announced Nepal’s candidature.

“Dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights, and our sincere desire to contribute to the work of the UN body, Nepal has presented its candidature to the Human Rights Council for the term 2018 - 2020,” Mahat said in his speech. “Following successful democratic transition, we want to share the experience of our unique peace process to the world community,” he added while presenting Nepal’s case. “By being in the Council, we also aspire to benefit from the international experiences for the consolidation of culture of human rights.”

Mahat said that Nepal believes fair opportunity of all interested states to serve in the UN Human Rights Council would contribute to the common goals of promotion and protection of human rights everywhere. 

This is the first time Nepal has presented its candidature to the council. While in Geneva, Mahat will seek support from various leaders and representatives for Nepal’s candidature. 

“I take this opportunity to solicit support from all member and observer states to our candidature,” he urged.

He also called on states to invest in Nepal and increase the flow of aid. “For many developing countries like Nepal, the right to development bears a profound meaning,” he said, adding: “Greater flows of official development assistance, foreign direct investment, technology transfer, improvement of connectivity, including transit and transport, and market access for goods and services are some of the measures that can help to achieve the development aspirations of less developed countries.”

Mahat also stressed that the right to development should be mainstreamed and be treated on equal footing as civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.

Highlighting several aspects of Nepal’s constitution and Nepal’s commitment to human rights, Mahat said Nepal is committed to inclusive participation and growth. “The Constitution in Nepal consolidates inclusive democratic polity, pluralism, rule of law and envisions a representative and accountable government, social and economic justice and universally accepted human rights,” he added.

‘Nepal is a party to 24 human rights instruments, including seven of the nine core human rights conventions and protocols,” he shared. “Our efforts to internalise these international obligations through domestic laws and enforcement measures are going on.”

He also apprised the UN body of Nepal’s commitment to addressing issues of transitional justice, saying the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons are currently doing their works.

“Terms of the commissions have recently been extended. This will allow the investigation and prosecution of all allegations of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian laws, and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said. “We are also committed to addressing the needs of the victims and creating an atmosphere of reconciliation in society as per the spirit of Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2006.”