Kathmandu, August 9
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has spoken about an individual case from Nepal’s decade-long conflict era for the first time, telling the government to probe an alleged gang-rape and torture on a woman in Dailekh district of mid-western hill by then Royal Nepali Army soldiers.
Punra Maya (named changed) had reported the crime against her committed on November 23, 2004 at a meeting with Advocacy Forum-Nepal, a human rights NGO, which had taken up the issue to the global body in coordination with international human rights organisations.
In its resolution adopted in March 2017, the UNCRC has said, “The State party is under an obligation to provide the author with an effective remedy.”
“This requires it to make full reparation to individuals whose Covenant rights have been violated with an effective remedy and full reparation,” the decision reads.
Likewise, the Committee recommended that Nepal government conduct a thorough and effective investigation into the facts submitted by the victim; prosecute, try and punish with appropriate sanctions those responsible for her arbitrary detention, torture and harassment, and make the results of those measures public; provide adequate compensation and appropriate measures of satisfaction to the author for the violations suffered, including reimbursement for medical expenses incurred to treat the injuries sustained as a result of torture; and ensure that all necessary and adequate psychological rehabilitation and medical treatment is provided to her.
“The State party is also under an obligation to take steps to prevent the occurrence of similar violations from occurring in the future,” it added.
The Committee also suggested that Nepal remove various legal barriers in moving such cases to the court including 35-day time limit.
