The National Human Rights Commission is planning to set up a human rights training academy to educate government and non government professionals about human and civil rights. It is currently preparing a legal framework for the academy that is expected to open next year.

The academy will provide long and short-term trainings based on professions, such as law enforcement, military, civil service and teaching .

In its plan, the commission has proposed stalling promotion of security personnel above officer level if they are not trained as required by their profession.

Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have their own academies that provide trainings on various courses, including basic human rights. There are also National Staff and Administrative College and National Judicial Academy that train civil servants. However, these facilities do not offer advanced training courses that officer level staff must have.

Anup Raj Sharma, chairperson of the commission, said as the concept of human rights is evolving with time, a human rights training academy is necessary to address the changing dynamics.

According to the officials, the commission is planning to partner with Tribhuvan University and Hong Kong University for some academic courses.

Prakash Osti, member of the human rights body, said some donor agencies including the UN have assured financial support to the academy, provided that the facility is established through an Act and the government takes the responsibility of financing its operation.

“The services by the government and non government agencies should fully abide by human rights principle. Therefore, every people working with these institutions must have knowledge on these issues,” he said.

Osti said the input from the experts working with different agencies will be taken before giving final shape to the academy and preparing its curriculum.