Amnesty International globally launched its annual report entitled Amnesty International Report 2008: the state of world’s human rights on 28 May 2008.
The report has stated that both the Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN (M)) have largely failed to implement human rights commitments in the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), signed in November 2006.
The report has expressed concern over the culture of impunity in Nepal, as the measures to address impunity for past violations and abuses were grossly inadequate. Emphasizing issue of identity based violations, the report has highlighted that the vulnerable groups, including women and minorities, remained at risk of human rights abuses.
Acting Chairperson of AI Nepal, Dhruba Kumar Karki made public the report amidst a special program in Kathmandu.
Talking to the media persons, Mr. Karki stressed on the accountability of the state and the non-state actors responsible for human rights violations and abuses.
Chandra Adhikari, General Secretary, and Rameshwar Nepal, Director of AI Nepal briefed the media persons on various aspects of the report and the human rights situation of Nepal as documented by the report.
Sambhu Thakur, Treasurer, NEC members Geeta Neupane and Bikram Dhukuchhu along with advisor Pradeep Pokhrel were also present during the press meet.
About Report
Published on the occasion of the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the report documents human rights issues in 150 countries and territories around the world.
It covers the period January-December 2007, and reveals a world driven by inequality, scarred by discrimination and distorted by political repression.
However, it also captures the persistent spirit of the Declaration, and how over the intervening decades it has inspired the growth of a vibrant worldwide human rights movement, of which Amnesty International is proud to be part.
The report reveals how far the world has to go before people truly are free from “fear and want”. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, laid out 60 years ago, and in the other international human rights standards and instruments that have evolved since.
International Launch
Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International challenged world leaders to apologize for six decades of human rights failure and re-commit themselves to deliver concrete improvements, launching the report in London. She said, “The human rights flashpoints in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and Myanmar demand immediate action.”
Amnesty International’s Report 2008, shows that sixty years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations, people are still tortured or ill-treated in at least 81 countries, face unfair trials in at least 54 countries and are not allowed to speak freely in at least 77 countries.
“2007 was characterised by the impotence of Western governments and the ambivalence or reluctance of emerging powers to tackle some of the world’s worst human rights crises, ranging from entrenched conflicts to growing inequalities which are leaving millions of people behind,” said Ms Khan.