21 September, 2014
The 23rd Annual General Meeting (National Council Meeting) of Amnesty International (AI) Nepal was held on 19 to 21 September 2014 in Biratnagar. The highest policy making body meets every year. The AGM was divided into three different sessions: Inaugural Session, Business Session and Election of National Committees.
Inaugural Session
The inaugural session of the 23rd Annual General Meeting was held on 19 September at Birendra Sava Ghriha. Various persons from different sectors congratulated AI for contributing to defending human rights in Nepal. They expressed their wishes for AI to continue its work and give voice to the voiceless.
Speakers at the inaugural session included Arjun Narsingh KC, senior leader of Nepali Congress Party and member of Parliament; Shankar Pokharel, leader of Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) and Dinanath Sharma, leader of Unified Nepal Communist Party (Maoist). Other speakers were Sergio Laurenti, representative of Amnesty International’s International Secretariat; Homkanta Chaulagai, Chairperson of Human Rights and Peace Society; Former Chairperson and advisor of AI Nepal Krishna Kandel, Former Chairperson Hem Kumar Khadka, Former Advisor Lokesh Dhakal, Vice-chairperson Surya Bahadur Adhikari and Treasurer Pratap Paudel. The inaugural session was chaired by AI Nepal’s Chairperson Shambhu Thakur.
AI Nepal’s Director Rameshwar Nepal made a detailed presentation regarding AI’s priority campaign as well as AI’s concerns over ongoing human rights situation.
Earlier in the day a rally was held from Mahendra Chowk which went through the city center in Biratnagar. People from different walks of life including representatives of AI groups from different parts of the country, women groups and representative of media and civil society took part in the rally by holding placards and banner; demanding truth, reparation and justice for the cases of conflict related violence.
Business Sessions
The closed business session held discussion on annual report presented by Acting General Secretary Deek Prasad Ghimire, Financial and Auditors Report presented by Treasurer Pratap Poudel and Activities Report presented by Director Rameshwar Nepal. The AGM also gave authority to the National Executive Committee to appoint auditors to conduct the audit of fiscal year 2071/072.
The AGM passed 7 different resolutions about different human rights issues. These include: a call to end impunity, ensure protection of rights of Nepali migrant workers, ratify Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and ensure right to maternal health.
Altogether 136 delegates from 69 local AI Groups participated in the AGM.
Election
The AGM also elected an 11-member National Executive Committee and a 3-member Appeal Committee for a two-year term. The following is the list of the newly elected committees.
(A) National Executive Committee
| S.No. | Name | Designation | Represented From |
| 1 | Mr. Surya Bahadur Adhikari | Chairperson | AI Nepal, Group – 80 Kathmandu |
| 2 | Mr. Pratap Paudel | Vice-Chairperson | AI Nepal, Group 48, Baglung |
| 3 | Mr. Deek Prasad Ghimire | General Secretary | AI Nepal, Group-11, Biratnagar, Morang |
| 4 | Mr. Bikram Dhukuchhu | Deputy General Secretary | Ai Nepal, Business Group – 17, Bhaktapur |
| 5 | Mr. Prabin Agrawal | Treasurer | AI Nepal, Group 32, Kathmandu |
| 6 | Ms. Namuna Niraula (Dahal) | Woman Member | AI Nepal, Group 70,Jhapa |
| 7 | Ms. Padmini Thapa | Woman Member | AI Nepal Group 89, Tikapur |
| 8 | Mr. Arjun Adhikari | Member | AI Nepal, Narayani Group 33, Chitwan |
| 9 | Ms. Manju Aryal | Member | AI Nepal, Women Group 42, Gorkha |
| 10 | Mr. Shesh Kumar Niraula | Member | AI Nepal, Teachers Group 60, Jhapa |
| 11 | Mr. Heramba Dev Bhattarai | Member | AI Nepal, Labor Group 8, Kathmandu |
(B) Appeal Committee
| S.No. | Name | Designation | Represented From |
| 1 | Mr. Kumar Ghimire | Coordinator | AI Nepal, Group – 35 , Kathmandu |
| 2 | Ms. Parbata Acharya | Member | AI Nepal, Group-36, Pyuthan |
| 3 | Mr. Ashok Shrestha (Joshi) | Member | AI Nepal, Group -18, Kathmandu |
Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony was held on 21 September. Chairperson Shambhu Thakur, Newly Elected Chairperson Surya Bahadur, former advisor Lokesh Dhakal, Advisor Krishna Kandel and others expressed their happiness at the success of the AGM. The ceremony was chaired by Dharmendra Vaniya, Convenor of AI Nepal Group-41, Biratnagar and facilitated by Jeevan Koirala, the Convenor of Group 11, Biratnagar. Local AI Groups also offered a “token of love” to all participants of the AGM.