The current situation in Nepal offers both opportunities and challenges for the protection of human rights. It is a time in which human rights defenders will need to be vigilant and active.

The ceasefire, announced firstly by CPN (Maoist) and now reciprocated by the Government on 3 May, offers a vital opportunity to build the foundation an end to the 10-year armed conflict and for permanent peace in Nepal . But it will be a sensitive period, in which all parties must commit themselves to maintaining the terms and modalities of the ceasefire. Two key elements of a successful ceasefire agreement are that its rules are clearly stipulated, and that there is an adequate independent monitoring mechanism. Just as our Office has maintained a focus on violations of international humanitarian law in the context of the armed conflict, we stand ready to play a role in monitoring the ceasefire in terms of human rights matters.

Another key area of human rights concern, in the context of ending the long conflict, is the issue of accountability for past violations of human rights. This relates to the violations committed during the 19-day national strike in April, but it also relates to violations committed throughout the 10-year conflict. The hundreds of outstanding cases of disappearance must be resolved, responsibility determined and accountability established. From our own monitoring work we have determined that both members of the Royal Nepalese Army and the armed forces of the CPN (Maoist) have been responsible for serious human rights violations, and it is essential in this period of transition that citizens see accountability determined through proper legal channels and so are able to trust in the rule of law in Nepal.

Our Office will continue to work to protect and promote democratic human rights, such as the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention. This will require legal reforms in order to ensure that Nepal meets its obligations under international standards. We will also continue to work with our partners in civil society to address longstanding human rights issues such as discrimination based on descent or gender. Indeed, in this time of transition, we look forward to a greater emphasis on some of these key issues which members of civil society have long been engaged in.

So we all have plenty of work to do, and I look forward to extending our partnership with civil society in order to effectively protect and promote human rights in Nepal in these new times ahead.

Thank you.