Nepal: Joint Submission To The UN Universal Periodic Review - 51st Session Of The UPR Working Group

A Joint Statement* by the Asian Human Rights Commission & CIVICUS

In this submission, the two organisations examine the Government of Nepal’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society. Specifically, we analyse Nepal’s fulfilment of the rights to freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly and unwarranted restrictions on human rights defenders (HRDs) since its previous UPR examination in January 2021. To this end, we assess Nepal’s implementation of recommendations received during the 3rd UPR cycle relating to these issues and provide follow-up recommendations.

During the 3rd UPR cycle, the Government of Nepal received 13 recommendations relating to the space for civil society (civic space). It accepted 11 of these recommendations and noted two. An evaluation of a range of legal sources and human rights documentation addressed in this submission demonstrates that the Government of Nepal has not implemented seven recommendations relating to civic space and has only partly implemented the other six recommendations.

The government has persistently failed to address unwarranted restrictions on civic space since its last UPR examination. Acute implementation gaps were found with regard to the right to freedom of expression and protection of civil society actors.

We are deeply concerned by increasing incidents of attacks and threats against journalists and media workers in retaliation to their work.

We are further alarmed by restrictions to the right to peaceful assembly and the use of excessive and disproportionate force against protesters, including the repeated use of teargas and water cannon.

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