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Women rights activists decry violence, embargo
Women rights activists have condemned the loss of 51 human lives in the unrest that started in the Tarai districts right after the promulgation of the constitution three months ago.Women rights activists have condemned the loss of 51 human lives in the unrest that started in the Tarai districts right after the promulgation of the constitution three months ago.
Issuing a statement on Tuesday, Sankalpa, a network of women rights organisations, urged both the government and the agitating Madhesi parties to stop the violence, and find a peaceful solution.
“We agree that the constitution has not been able to ensure the rights of women, indigenous people, Dalits, and Madhesi people, but violence is not a solution. We should look forward to solving our issues that have not been addressed in the constitution by amending the constitution,” said Durga Sob, president of Sankalpa.
Sob added that acute crisis of fuel, food, drugs, black marketeering of fuel, and the rise in impunity as a result of the two-month long economic blockade has affected the earthquake victims, women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities the most.
Sankalpa has requested both the government and the agitating parties to seek a peaceful solution through dialogue.
Meanwhile, National Women Commission (NWC) has stated that the unrest in the Tarai has created a humanitarian crisis.
Spokesperson of NWC Human Humagain said that taking of human lives and attacking ambulances ferrying patients have drawn the attention of the commission. “We appeal both the parties to respect human rights,” Humagain said.
EU urges govt to speed up rebuilding efforts
The European Union has expressed concern over the delay in forming the National Reconstruction Authority.
Reiterating it commitment to work with Nepal in post-reconstruction works at the 9th session of the Nepal-European Union Joint Commission here on Tuesday, the EU urged the government to expedite relief and rehabilitation works to aid the quake-affected people.
The two sides exchanged views on the post-earthquake reconstruction works, EU-funded development programmes in Nepal, including the future priorities, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. They also exchanged views on trade and investment, human rights, refugee issues as well as global issues like Post-15 Development Agenda, international climate change negotiations.
With winter closing in, the EU is concerned about thousands of quake affected people who are forced to live in minimum arrangements, according officials present in the meeting. “The EU delegation also inquired about the damage caused by the ongoing obstruction at the Nepal-India border.”
Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi led the Nepali delegation, which comprises Nepali Ambassador to the EU Ram Mani Pokharel and senior officials from various ministries.
The EU delegation was headed by Ugo Astuto, acting managing director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service.
The two sides “frankly discussed” the need for post-quake reconstruction, EU Ambassador to Nepal Renjse Teerink wrote on her twitter post.
Later on Tuesday, Astuto paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa at his office in Singha Durbar where the two discussed issues of bilateral interest.
Earlier on Monday, the two sides had discussed the EU-funded development programmes and its future priorities in Nepal during the Development Sub-Commission meeting at the Finance Ministry.