The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to draft in additional diplomats in its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

The ministry has decided to bring in two diplomats in Geneva in order to cope with work load following Nepal’s recent election to the member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Nepal was elected to the council for the term 2018-2020, securing 166 votes—the highest in the Asia-Pacific Group—in the election in last October in New York.  “The human rights council is one the busiest platforms among the UN that convenes meetings every day. “Considering the workload, we have decided to reinforce two diplomats exclusively to attend the meetings and cover the events in Geneva,” said Bharat Raj Poudyal, spokesperson for the ministry.

Joint-secretary Tirtha Raj Wagle and Under Secretary Ram Prasad Subedi have already been selected to take up the new assignments in Geneva. “Besides other regular works, often time the council holds pressing human rights issues that call for some dedicated officials to attend in the meetings,” Poudel said.

“To fulfil our responsibility as a member, we have decided to enforce additional manpower,” he said. The two officials will serve until December 2020.