Amnesty International (AI) Nepal held its 16 th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 15-16 March 2008 in Kathmandu. Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kedarnath Upadhyaya inaugurated the AGM on 15 March. Addressing the inaugural program, chief guest Mr. Upadhyaya appreciated the role of AI in protection of human rights and said, “NHRC is always ready to work together with the AI”.
Speaking at the program, Chief of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Nepal Richard Bennet, Founder of AI Nepal Nutan Thapaliya, Former Prisoner of Conscience (POC) and former Chair of AI Nepal Krishna Pahadi, former Commissioners of the NHRC Sushil Pyakurel and Prof. Kapil Shrestha, Acting Chairperson of AI Nepal Dhruba Kumar Karki, Chairperson of Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) Purusottam Dahal, former chairpersons of AI Nepal Krishna Kandel, Binod Nepal, Pradip Pokharel and Charan Prasai, Women Rights Defender Shanti Adhikari, National Executive Committee Member of AI Nepal Geeta Neupane and Director Rameshwar Nepal expressed their views on different aspect of human rights and role of Amnesty International to protect them.
The other highlight of the inaugural session of the AGM was the 3 types of “Highest Membership Growth Award” that is honoured to any AI Nepal groups recruiting the highest total number, youth network and women members in the year 2007. The all 3 types of awards were credited to Group-3, Kathmandu for it outstanding membership growth in the year 2007. Chief guest of the inaugural session Mr. Updhayaya away cash prize and certificate to Bhawani Prasad Kharel, Kanchan Prasad Kharal and Rupa Devi Bastola of the award winning Group.
The AGM endorsed annual activity report and financial report of the year 2007 along with the plans and programs for the year 2008. The AGM has also endorsed some of the important resolutions apart from its regular plans. First, the AGM has appealed the Nepal government to formulate effective laws to prevent violence against women and implement them. Second, the AGM has called on the Nepal government to develop laws to end impunity and implement them. Thirdly, recalling AI Nepal’s continuous effort to include human rights in the curriculum, the AGM has appealed the government of Nepal for the same.
Representatives of 71 AI Groups from different parts of the country participated in the AGM.