Monday, November 7, 2011 - Posted by Lhakpa Lama at 10:42 PM

Amend Rome statute‚ AI-Nepal tells DPM Shrestha

THT ONLINE/FILE PHOTO

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During the meeting‚ the AI- Nepal underlined the importance of amending the statute to deliver justice through International Court‚ as impunity was mounting in the country during the ongoing transitional period.

KATHMANDU: Representatives of the Amnesty International (AI) - Nepal met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayankaji Shrestha on Sunday at the latter’s office and demanded to ratify the Rome statute of International Criminal Court (ICC).

During the meeting, the AI- Nepal underlined the importance of amending the statute to deliver justice through International Court, as impunity was mounting in the country during the ongoing transitional period.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha said that the government is committed to end every form of impunities flourishing in the country, to improve the situation of human rights inside the country.

He also assured that the incumbent government would hold required discussions with all concerned parties and move ahead for the amendment of the statute.

AI Nepal has been campaigning for the ratification of the Rome Statute since 2000 to end the culture of impunity in Nepal.

One of the core principles of ICC assumes that permanent solutions to impunity must be found at the domestic level despite the ICC investigates and prosecutes the core international crimes like genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, only in situations where states are unable or unwilling to do so by themselves.

(Source : http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Amend+Rome+statute%26sbquo%3B+AI-N+tells+DPM+Shrestha&NewsID=308245 )

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WE ARE COMMITTED TO RATIFY ROME STATUTE: NEPAL GOVERNMENT

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - Posted by Lhakpa Lama at 2:22 AM

Nepal government again expressed it's full commitments to ratify the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court (ICC). On a talk programme 'Why Rome Statute is not being Ratified?' organized by Amnesty International Nepal on 20 July 2011, Minister for Energy Gokarna Bista said, "Government expresses its full commitment to ratify Rome Statute and is now preparing for it doing a consultation with all political parties." He further added, "The government is committed to end the culture of impunity in Nepal."

Likewise, Constituent Assembly (CA) member and popular youth leader of Nepali congress Gagan Thapa urged all political parties not to afraid of ratifying the Statute. He also said that he will register a resolution in the Parliament with the signatures of CA members in the near future.

CA member Binod Pahadi from UCPN (Maoist) also expressed his full commitments on the occasion. Representing the Maoist party he said that his party is not against the ratification of Rome statute. He also called Nepal government to bring the proposal in the parliament.

Similarly, leader of Madhesi Rights Forum (Democratic) and CA member Ramjanam Chaudhari also expressed his full commitments to the statute. He said that "We got many commitments but now we arrived on a step of action." He further added-"We need no more commitments but need actions."

CA members of Nepali congress Laxmi Pariyar said, "If we ratify the Rome Statute then we can get justice".

Civil Society leader and Journalist Shyam Shrestha and president of Human Rights and Peace Society Homkanta Choulagain said that political parties should be serious to ratify the Statute.

On the occasion, representative of Amnesty International's International Secretariat in London Frida Kruijt, Chairperson of AI Nepal Hem Kumar Khadka and General Secretary Rashmila Bhochhibhoya made it clear that the Rome Statute has no retrospective effects, so no one need to be afraid ratify it.

At the beginning, AI Nepal's Director Rameshwar Nepal made a presentation about the Rome Statute and increasing trend of impunity in Nepal.

The establishment of a new permanent International Criminal Court in 2002 represents a major breakthrough in international justice. The Court will investigate and prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes when national authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.

The Court will therefore act as a catalyst for states to fulfill their primary obligations to investigate and prosecute the crimes.

AI Nepal has been campaigning for the ratification of the Rome Statute since 2000.

(Source : http://amnestynepal.org/campaigns/ai-nepal-activities/we-are-committed-to-ratify-rome-statute:-nepal-government.html )

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Global Coalition Calls on Nepal to Join the International Criminal Court

Monday, August 29, 2011 - Posted by Lhakpa Lama at 10:53 PM

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court today called on Nepal to demonstrate its commitment to justice and the rule of law by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)—the world’s first and only permanent international court to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Nepal is the focus of the Coalition’s Universal Ratification Campaign (URC) for August 2011, a monthly campaign launched to call upon a different country to join the Rome Statute—the ICC’s founding treaty.

In a letter dated 1 August 2011 to Nepalese President H.E. Mr. Ram Baran Yadav, the Coalition—a global network of more than 2,500 civil society organizations in 150 countries advocating for a fair, effective and independent ICC—urged the government of Nepal to prioritize its accession of the Rome Statute.

The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of well over half of the world’s nations, with 116 states having ratified or acceded to the treaty. A number of states around the world including the Philippines, Cape Verde, Malaysia and the Maldives are nearing completion of their ratification processes.

To date, only 14 states in the Asia-Pacific region have recognized the jurisdiction of the ICC. By joining the ICC, Nepal would set an important example for states throughout the Asia-Pacific region that have yet to embrace the Rome Statute system.

“We are encouraged that a growing number of states in the Asia region are moving forward in their ratification processes, as it is one that remains underrepresented at the ICC,” said William R. Pace, Convenor of the Coalition. “By embracing the Rome Statute system, Nepal will strengthen its leadership in the Asia region toward increasing accountability for the gravest crimes,” Pace added.

The Coalition also recalled Nepal’s past efforts to join the ICC, in particular the Nepalese Legislature’s decision on 24 July 2006 to unanimously endorse a proposal to accede to the Rome Statute and the tabling of the matter before the Cabinet in February 2009.

“ Nepal ‘s accession will signal the government’s readiness to fulfill its promise to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes” said Evelyn Balais-Serrano, the Coalition’s Asia Regional Coordinator. “It is time for the government to turn its commitments to action and take concrete steps to join the ICC.”

As a state party, Nepal would be able to actively participate in the annual Assembly of States Parties (ASP) of the ICC, during which states make important decisions in relation to the administration of the Court, including the election of judges and prosecutors. In December 2011, six new judges, a new chief prosecutor and other Court officials will be elected by the ASP. By acceding to the Rome Statute by 2 September 2011, Nepal can nominate and vote for candidates to these important posts to ensure national and regional representation in this new mechanism for international justice.

(Source: http://www.weinformers.net/2011/08/04/global-coalition-calls-on-nepal-to-join-the-international-criminal-court/)

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Global Coalition Calls on Nepal to Join the International Criminal Court

Saturday, August 6, 2011 - Posted by Lhakpa Lama at 11:39 PM

Civil Society Says Accession to the Rome Statute is a Priority to End Impunity.

New York, USA – The Coalition for the International Criminal Court today called on Nepal to demonstrate its commitment to justice and the rule of law by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)—the world’s first and only permanent international court to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Nepal is the focus of the Coalition’s Universal Ratification Campaign (URC) for August 2011, a monthly campaign launched to call upon a different country to join the Rome Statute—the ICC’s founding treaty.
In a letter dated 1 August 2011 to Nepalese President H.E. Mr. Ram Baran Yadav, the Coalition—a global network of more than 2,500 civil society organizations in 150 countries advocating for a fair, effective and independent ICC—urged the government of Nepal to prioritize its accession of the Rome Statute.
The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of well over half of the world’s nations, with 116 states having ratified or acceded to the treaty. A number of states around the world including the Philippines, Cape Verde, Malaysia and the Maldives are nearing completion of their ratification processes.

To date, only 14 states in the Asia-Pacific region have recognized the jurisdiction of the ICC. By joining the ICC, Nepal would set an important example for states throughout the Asia-Pacific region that have yet to embrace the Rome Statute system.

“We are encouraged that a growing number of states in the Asia region are moving forward in their ratification processes, as it is one that remains underrepresented at the ICC,” said William R. Pace, Convenor of the Coalition. “By embracing the Rome Statute system, Nepal will strengthen its leadership in the Asia region toward increasing accountability for the gravest crimes,” Pace added.

The Coalition also recalled Nepal’s past efforts to join the ICC, in particular the Nepalese Legislature’s decision on 24 July 2006 to unanimously endorse a proposal to accede to the Rome Statute and the tabling of the matter before the Cabinet in February 2009.

“Nepal's accession will signal the government's readiness to fulfill its promise to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes” said Evelyn Balais-Serrano, the Coalition’s Asia Regional Coordinator. “It is time for the government to turn its commitments to action and take concrete steps to join the ICC.”

As a state party, Nepal would be able to actively participate in the annual Assembly of States Parties (ASP) of the ICC, during which states make important decisions in relation to the administration of the Court, including the election of judges and prosecutors. In December 2011, six new judges, a new chief prosecutor and other Court officials will be elected by the ASP. By acceding to the Rome Statute by 2 September 2011, Nepal can nominate and vote for candidates to these important posts to ensure national and regional representation in this new mechanism for international justice

(Source : http://www.barnaclegrenada.com/content/view/2000/52/ )

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Tuesday, August 2, 2011 - Posted by Kathmandu Youth Network at 10:02 PM

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About the International Criminal Court

Monday, August 1, 2011 - Posted by Lhakpa Lama at 3:53 AM

Pre-Trial Judges conducting a hearing © ICC-CPI / Associated Press

The International Criminal Court (ICC), governed by the Rome Statute, is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.

The ICC is an independent international organisation, and is not part of the United Nations system. Its seat is at The Hague in the Netherlands. Although the Court’s expenses are funded primarily by States Parties, it also receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities.

The international community has long aspired to the creation of a permanent international court, and, in the 20th century, it reached consensus on definitions of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials addressed war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity committed during the Second World War.

In the 1990s after the end of the Cold War, tribunals like the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda were the result of consensus that impunity is unacceptable. However, because they were established to try crimes committed only within a specific time-frame and during a specific conflict, there was general agreement that an independent, permanent criminal court was needed.

On 17 July 1998, the international community reached an historic milestone when 120 States adopted the Rome Statute, the legal basis for establishing the permanent International Criminal Court.

The Rome Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002 after ratification by 60 countries.

Click here for a detailed overview of the ICC.

Download Rome Statute.

(Source : http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/About+the+Court/ )

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Interaction on the International Criminal Court

Monday, July 25, 2011 - Posted by Kathmandu Youth Network at 12:34 AM

An interaction between an international delegation of Amnesty International (AI) and a range of actors including non-governmental organizations, lawyers and members of civil society held in Kathmandu on 25 September 2007. A delegation of the AI visiting Nepal to work with Amnesty International Nepal to promote ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In the program participants briefed about the campaigning activities that the human rights organization and civil society have been undertaking and challenges to get ICC statute ratified in Nepal.

The delegation of expert made up of Linda Billfalk, Member of Amnesty International's Working Group on International Justice and Evelyn Serrano, Asia Coordinator of Coalition for the International Criminal Court had seek to identify the ways in which Amnesty International can support the efforts for the ratification of the ICC. The delegation´s visit to Kathmandu was co-ordinated with a mission by Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), which organised a round-table discussion for Nepalese parliamentarians today. David Donat Cattin, director of PGA, joined some of the meetings of the delegation.

During the meetings government representatives expressed support for the ICC. However, they did not offer any commitment to proceed with ratification immediately. The delegation urged the government to complete ratification as a matter of the utmost urgency to ensure that the ICC can act as a deterrent against any future crimes and a protection for the Nepalese people.

In meetings with the leaders of several political parties as well as parliamentarians from different parties, the delegation welcomed the active support that parliament has demonstrated for the ICC by approving a proposal providing for the government to ratify the Rome Statute on 25 July 2006. The delegation discussed in detail with them how the ICC works in practice and the benefits that it offers to Nepal (see below). They urged parliamentarians to continue calling for Nepal’s immediate ratification.

The delegation also met with the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force as well as the Nepal Army and welcomed their statements of strong support for the ICC and Nepal’s ratification

(Source : http://amnestynepal.org/campaigns/ai-nepal-activities/interaction-on-the-international-criminal-court.html )

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अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको रोम विधान अनुमोदनको आवश्यकता

Posted by Kathmandu Youth Network at 12:08 AM

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालत (International Criminal Court – ICC) के हो ?

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालत नरसंहार, युद्धअपराध र मानवता विरुद्धको अपराधमा संलग्न कुनै पनि व्यक्तिलाई न्यायिक कठघरामा उभ्याउन सक्ने पहिलो स्वतन्त्र र निष्पक्ष अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय निकाय हो । जब राष्ट्रिय सरकारहरूले गम्भीर प्रकृतिका मानवता विरुद्धका अपराध गर्ने दोषीलाई कारवाही गर्न सक्दैनन् वा गर्दैनन् तब यस अदालतले उक्त काम गर्न सक्दछ ।

विश्वमा बढ्दै गएका नरसंहार, युद्धअपराध र मानवता विरुद्धको अपराधमा सम्बन्धित देशका राष्ट्रिय संयन्त्रहरूले त्यस्ता अपराधका दोषीलाई कारवाही नगरेको वा कारवाही गर्न नसकेको घटनाहरूमा बृद्धि हुँदै जाँदा दण्डहीनताले व्यापकता पाएको देखिएकाले त्यस्ता अपराधमा संलग्न दोषीहरूमाथि कारवाहीको सुनिश्चितता र दण्डहीनताको अन्त्यका लागि सन् १९९८ मा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको इटलीको रोममा भएको एक भेलाले अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालत (International Criminal Court – ICC) को विधान पारित गरेको थियो ।

यसअघि मानवता विरुद्धका अपराध, युद्ध अपराध र नरसंहार जस्ता घटनाका दोषीहरुलाई कुनै पनि देशका राष्ट्रिय निकायहरुले कारवाही गर्न नसकेमा वा गर्न नचाहेमा त्यस्ता दोषीलाई कारवाही गर्न सक्ने हैसियत राख्ने एक अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय अदालतको स्थापना हुनु पर्दछ भनी एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनलले सन् १९९५ देखि नै विश्वव्यापी अभियान प्रारम्भ गरेको थियो, जसमा विश्वभरबाट विभिन्न संघसंस्था र वुद्धिजीवी वर्गको व्यापक समर्थन रहेको थियो । त्यसैले कतिपयले त एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनललाई अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको "Child Brain" पनि भन्ने गर्दछन् ।

विधानमा व्यवस्था भएबमोजिम, ६० भन्दा बढी राष्ट्रले यसको अनुमोदन गरेपश्चात् सन् २००२ को जुलाईमा उक्त अदालतको स्थापना भएको हो । अदालतले युगान्डा, प्रजातान्त्रिक गणतान्त्रिक कङ्गो र सुडानमा भएका मानवता विरुद्ध र युद्ध अपराधसम्बन्धी मुद्दाहरूको छानबिन गरिरहेको छ । त्यसैगरी यसले हाल विभिन्न मुलुकका अन्य घटनाहरूको समेत अनुसन्धान गरिरहेको छ ।

हाल ११५ देशले यस विधानको अनुमोदन गरी आफ्नो देश नरसंहार, युद्धअपराध र मानवता विरुद्धको अपराधको विपक्षमा रहेको तथा त्यस्ता अपराधका दोषीलाई निष्पक्ष अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मापदण्डको अधीनमा रही कारवाही अघि बढाउने एवम् आफ्नो देशबाट दण्डहीनताको अवस्था समाप्त गर्ने दृढता प्रकट गरेर विश्वसामु उदाहरण पेश गरिसकेका छन् ।

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको विधान अनुमोदन गरेमा नेपाललाई के फाइदा हुन्छ ?

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतले विश्वभर दण्डहीनताको अन्त्यका लागि नयाँ अवसर सृजना गरेको हुँदा नेपालले पनि उक्त विधान अनुमोदन गरेमा आफूले अनुसन्धान गर्न नसकेका घटनाहरूको अनुसन्धानका लागि उक्त अदालतलाई अनुरोध गर्न सक्दछ । यदि नेपालमा नरसंहार, मानवता विरुद्धको अपराध तथा युद्ध अपराधका घटनाहरू भई राष्ट्रिय संयन्त्रहरूले त्यसको अनुसन्धान गर्न नसकेमा वा गर्न नचाहेमा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतले उक्त काम गर्न सक्दछ । रोम विधानको अनुमोदन गरेमा नेपालले अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालत सम्बन्धी निर्णय प्रक्रियामा समेत सहभागी हुन पाउँछ ।

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको विधान अनुमोदनका लागि नेपालले अहिलेसम्म के गर्यो ?

नेपालमा दण्डहीनताको अवस्था व्यापक रहेको तथ्यलाई मध्यनजर गर्दै, त्यस्तो दण्डहीनता अन्त्य गर्न सक्ने फौजदारी अदालतको विधान पारित गर्न २०६३ साउन ९ गतेको प्रतिनिधिसभाको बैठकले सर्वसम्मतरूपमा सरकारलाई निर्देशन दियो, जसलाई अत्यन्तै सकारात्मक र स्वागतयोग्य कदम मान्न सकिन्छ । प्रतिनिधिसभाको निर्देशन पश्चात् रोम विधान अनुमोदनपछि नेपाललाई सृजना हुने दायित्व र यसको असरका सम्बन्धमा अध्ययन गर्न नेपाल सरकारद्वारा २०६३ कार्तिक १ गते एक कार्यदल गठन गरियो । कार्यदलले नेदरल्याण्डको द हेगस्थित अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको भ्रमण समेत गरी २०६३ मंसिर २८ गते तत्कालिन उपप्रधान तथा परराष्ट्रमन्त्रीसमक्ष एक प्रतिवेदन प्रस्तुत गरेको थियो । उक्त प्रतिवेदन हालसम्म सार्वजनिक गरिसकिएको त छैन, तथापि त्यस प्रतिवेदनले समेत रोम विधान अनुमोदनका लागि जोड गरेको छ भनी सरकारी अधिकारीहरुले पटक पटक बताउने गर्नुभएको छ ।

त्यस्तै तत्कालिन परराष्ट्रमन्त्री (उपेन्द्र यादव) ले रोम विधान अनुमोदनको लागि २०६५ माघ २९ गते मन्त्रीपरिषदमा प्रस्ताव पेश गर्नुभयो । राष्ट्रिय तथा अन्तर्राष्ट्रियस्तरका नागरिक समाजहरूले परराष्ट्रमन्त्रीद्वारा राखिएको उक्त प्रस्तावको स्वागत गर्दै सकेसम्म चाँडो विधान अनुमोदनको प्रक्रिया सम्पन्न गर्न मन्त्रीपरिषदबाट संसदसमक्ष प्रस्ताव पेश गर्न अनुरोध गरे । तर, सबै राजनीतिक दलहरुसँग अनौपचारिक रूपमा परामर्श नगरी रोम विधान अनुमोदनका लागि परराष्ट्रमन्त्रीले राख्नुभएको प्रस्ताव स्वीकृत नगर्ने कुरा तत्कालिन सरकारले बतायो ।

त्यसपछिको सरकारका परराष्ट्रमन्त्री सुजाता कोइरालाले पनि एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनल नेपालका प्रतिनिधिमण्डलसँग २०६६ साउन ११ गते भएको भेटघाटका क्रममा रोम विधान अनुमोदनका लागि यसअघि भएका प्रयासहरुको अध्ययन गर्ने र उक्त विधान अनुमोदनका लागि आफ्नो मन्त्रालयका तर्फबाट आवश्यक पहल गर्ने प्रतिवद्धता गर्नुभएको थियो । त्यस्तै त्यसपछिका दिनहरुमा वहाँले व्यक्त गर्नुभएको सार्वजनिक भनाईहरुमा आफू रोम विधान अनुमोदन गर्नु पर्छ भन्ने पक्षमा रहेको र यसका लागि आफ्नो स्थानबाट हदैसम्मको प्रयास गर्ने भनी पटक पटक प्रतिवद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुभएको छ ।

त्यसैगरी नेपाल भ्रमणमा रहनुभएका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतका अध्यक्षसँग भेटघाटका क्रममा २०६६ मंसिरमा एकिकृत नेकपा माओवादीका अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहालले रोम विधान अनुमोदनका लागि आफ्नो पार्टी प्रतिवद्ध रहेको र अन्य राजनीतिक दललाई समेत त्यस विषयमा सहमत गराउन आफूले पहल गर्ने प्रतिवद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुभएको थियो ।

यी सबै प्रतिवद्धता, संसदको निर्देशन र सरकारी तवरबाट गरिएका कामका बावजुद पनि हालसम्म सो विधान अनुमोदन गरिएको छैन ।

विधानको अनुमोदन किन तत्काल गर्नु पर्यो ?

सामान्यतया अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतले कुनै पनि देशले रोम विधान अनुमोदन गरेपछिको मितिमा भएका घटनाहरूका सम्बन्धमा कारवाही अगाडि बढाउने हुँदा नेपालले यथाशीघ्र उक्त विधान अनुमोदन गर्न जरूरी छ । नेपाल अहिले यस्तो महत्वपूर्ण अवस्थामा छ, जतिबेला संक्रमणकालीन न्यायको सुनिश्चितता, दण्डहीनताको अन्त्य र न्यायपूर्ण एवम् दिगो शान्तिका लागि राज्यले विशेष तदारुकता देखाउनु जरुरी छ ।

यस विधान अनुमोदन गरेमा भविष्यमा यहाँ हुने कुनै पनि नरसंहार, मानवता विरुद्धको अपराध र युद्ध अपराधका दोषीलाई न्यायिक कठघरामा ल्याउन सकिन्छ । अतः चाँडो भन्दा चाँडो रोम विधानको अनुमोदनका लागि प्रक्रिया अघि बढाउन र त्यस विधान अनुमोदनपश्चात् राज्यलाई सृजना हुने दायित्वहरु पूरा गर्न नेपाल सरकार अग्रसर हुनु पर्दछ ।

रोम विधान अनुमोदनका लागि एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनलको अभियान

नेपालमा सत्य, न्याय र परिपूरण (Truth, Justice and Reparations) को सुनिश्चितताका लागि एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनलले सञ्चालन गरिरहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रियस्तरको अभियान अन्तर्गत यस संस्थाको नेपाल शाखाले एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनलको ५०औँ वार्षिकोत्सवको दिन (मे २०११) देखि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको रोम विधान अनुमोदनका खातिर विशेष अभियान थालनी गरेको छ । अभियानका क्रममा नरसंहार, मानवता विरुद्धको अपराध (गैरन्यायिक हत्या, जबर्जस्ती बेपत्ता र यातना लगायत) र युद्ध अपराधका घटनाहरूमा दण्डहीनताको अन्त्यका लागि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय फौजदारी अदालतको रोम विधान अनुमोदन गरेर दण्डहीनताको अन्त्यको लागि आफ्नो प्रतिवद्धता व्यक्त गर्न यस संस्थाले नेपाल सरकारलाई अनुरोध गरेको छ । अभियानका मार्फत् मूलतः यस संस्थाका सदस्य एवं समर्थकहरूले तत्काल रोम विधान अनुमोदन गर्न अनुरोध गर्दै नेपाल सरकारलाई लेखिएको पत्रमा हस्ताक्षर संकलन गरी प्रेषित गर्नेछन् ।

एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेसनल वर्तमान सरकारसँग चाँडोभन्दा चाँडो उक्त रोम विधान अनुमोदनका लागि आग्रह गर्दछ ।

अभियानमा भाग लिनुहोस्

रोम विधान अनुमोदन गर्न आग्रह गर्दै नेपाल सरकारलाई लेखिएको पत्र प्रेषित गर्ने अभियानमा तपाईं पनि भाग लिनुहोस् । यसका लागि तलको दिएको लिन्कमा क्लिक गर्न सक्नुहुनेछ । तपाईं जस्तै जागरुक व्यक्तिहरुबाट जब एक पछि अर्को गर्दै हजारौँको संख्यामा पत्रहरु नेपाल सरकारका कार्यालयमा पुग्दछन् तव यसका कारणले सरकार एकपटक सोच्न बाध्य हुन्छ ।

APPEAL FOR ACTION TO RECTIFY ROME STATUTE IN NEPAL

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ICC issues arrest warrant for Gadhafi

Posted by Kathmandu Youth Network at 12:02 AM

REUTERS

TRIPOLI: The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant today for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and rebels trying to oust him said their forces had advanced to within 80 km of the capital Tripoli.

The court approved warrants for Gadhafi as well as his son Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity. ICC prosecutors allege they were involved in the killing of protesters who rose up in February against Gadhafi’s 41-year rule.

Gadhafi has “absolute, ultimate and unquestioned control” over Libya’s state apparatus and its security forces, presiding judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng said in reading out the ruling.

She added that both Gadhafi and Saif al-Islam “conceived and orchestrated a plan to deter and quell by all means the civilian demonstrations” against the regime and that al-Senussi used his position of command to have attacks carried out.

Gadhafi’s government denies targeting civilians, accusing NATO jets staging air strikes on behalf of rebels of doing so.

Anti-Gadhafi rebels, based in the Western Mountains region southwest of Tripoli, made their biggest breakthrough in weeks to reach the town of Bir al-Ghanam, where they are now fighting pro-Gadhafi forces for control, their spokesman said.

The advance took them about 30 km north from their previous position and closer to Tripoli, Gadhafi’s power base.

“We are on the southern and western outskirts of Bir al-Ghanam,” Juma Ibrahim, a rebel spokesman in the nearby town of Zintan, said by telephone.

Tunisia’s state news agency TAP reported late on Sunday that Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi was on the island of Djerba, in southern Tunisia, where he was “negotiating with several foreign parties.”

It gave no details on the talks. Libya’s rebel leadership, in the eastern city of Benghazi, said last week it was in indirect contact with Gadhafi’s government, via foreign intermediaries, about a possible peace settlement.

Obeidi was joined at the Djerba talks by Health Minister Ahmed Hijazi and Social Affairs Minister Ibrahim Sherif, the Tunisian news agency reported.

Regime will be history soon: Rebels

BENGHAZI: Libyan rebels today welcomed the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Gadhafi, his son Saif al-Islam and spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi, saying they will hasten the leader’s departure. “We are happy that the whole world has united in prosecuting Gadhafi for the crimes he has committed,” rebel council spokesman Jalal al-Galal said by telephone from Benghazi. “Gadhafi was never inclined to leave Libya in the first place. He’s buying time and holding out in his territory for as long as he can. This will only hasten the departure of Gadhafi and his regime.”

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=ICC+issues+arrest+warrant+for+Gadhafi&NewsID=293410 )

(Source :

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Nepal: UN human rights official urges creation of justice and reconciliation commissions

Sunday, July 24, 2011 - Posted by Kathmandu Youth Network at 11:59 PM

Deputy Rights Commissioner Kyung-wha Kang (right) speaking to reporters on arrival in Nepal

19 April 2011 –

A senior United Nations human rights official today urged Nepal to quickly enact the draft laws that will establish a commission to probe enforced disappearances in the Asian country and create a mechanism to seek the truth about conflict-related abuses and facilitate national reconciliation.“Establishing these mechanisms in Nepal – in particular the Disappearances Commission and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission – is both necessary and urgent,” said Kyung-wha Kang, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights,addressing members of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly in the country’s capital, Kathmandu.

“The Constituent Assembly must swiftly adopt the necessary draft legislation to establish these commissions. Furthermore, to ensure that the claims of the victims are genuinely addressed, these laws must be in line with international human rights standards,” she said.

Ms. Kang, however, added commissions cannot replace the regular criminal justice process, which guarantees the rule of law in society.

“It is an obligation for all States to undertake investigations and prosecutions of all cases of gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Post-conflict amnesties cannot be granted to prevent prosecution of egregious human rights violations, including through pardons or the withdrawal of criminal charges.”

She voiced concern that no one has to date been held accountable for crimes committed during the conflict, noting that criminal investigations have not progressed and that some perpetrators have even been promoted, with little attention paid to redressing the grievance of the victims.

“In particular, families of the disappeared have remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, and to this day, continue to suffer as they await the truth – and justice. They need to be relieved of this terrible burden; seeing those responsible held to account will allow them, and all of Nepali society, to move beyond the past conflict period and build confidence in the mechanisms of the State.”

Ms. Kang said the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is pleased that the Nepalese legislature is considering two important bills aimed at advancing the protection and promotion of the human rights of one of the most marginalized groups in Nepali society – the Dalit community.

“I am speaking of the bill to properly criminalize untouchability practices and the bill to create a strong, independent, and adequately resourced National Dalit Commission to focus on the defence of the rights of the community.

“Passing these three laws – following the necessary amendments to ensure their consistency with international human rights standards and best practices – is of significant importance,” she added.

The Deputy High Commissioner said she was also encouraged by the decision by parliament to instruct the Government to proceed with the ratification of the Rome Statute, the legal instrument that created the International Criminal Court (ICC).

(Source : http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38151)

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About Campaign Organizer

Kathmandu Youth Network (KYN) is group of young Human Rights Activist, formed under the Amnesty International (AI) Nepal, Group-3 Kathmandu with the principles of international solidarity, effective action for the individual victim, global coverage, the universality and indivisibility of human rights, impartiality and independent.

KYN is established in 2007. Our vision is, for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international Human Rights standard. We are continually moving on this word Human Rights campaign from 2007.