Nepal has received wide support from the international community for its candidacy in the UN Human Rights Council as the country moves towards concluding its crucial transitional justice mechanisms.

In his two days of lobbying with the New Delhi-based non-resident ambassadors accredited to Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara explained to them why Nepal needs to become a member of the

UN rights body. Nepal is contesting for the council’s membership for the 2018-2020 term in an election slated for later this year.

Mahara’s meeting with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj was aimed at preparing the ground for Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s upcoming visit to the southern neighbour.

Bharat Raj Poudyal, head of the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had briefed the diplomats about Nepal’s current human rights situation, explaining why Nepal deserves the position. The meetings took place on Sunday and Monday morning.

Senior officials said Nepal’s membership at the UN body matters a lot at a time when it is headed for completing the transitional justice process. If it becomes a council member, Nepal could pursue its “cause and intervention” in human rights globally. It would play a significant role in shaping the human rights agenda using the platform to present its views, said officials.

Out of the 80 ambassadors overseeing their affairs in Kathmandu, a total of 35 attended the briefing at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi. Countries like Zambia, Czech Republic, Cuba and Venezuela pledged to vote for Nepal.

According to a statement issued by the Nepali Embassy, Mahara highlighted that by concluding the historic peace process, Nepal is close to setting an example of socio-political transformation. In the background of positive developments within the country, the foreign minister argued, it is time for Nepal to share its experience of political transformation, peace process, and the achievements made in the field of human rights with the wider international community.

In his opening remarks, Mahara noted that Nepal’s historic transformation in recent years had been a matter of interest to friends, near and far. He shared with the diplomats that the new constitution passed by the Constituent Assembly in September 2015 marked the beginning of a new era of peace and democracy in Nepal.

The ambassadors congratulated Nepal for the achievements made in institutionalising peace and democracy and expressed their willingness to boost bilateral relations with Nepal, according to the release.