National Human Rights Commission - Nepal

The National Human Rights Commission, established as an independent statutory body in 2000, has now been elevated to a powerful constitutional body with a commensurate mandate, competence and independence. The NHRCN was elevated to a constitutional body by the Article 131 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 and by Article 248 of the present Constitution of Nepal (2015). NHRC Nepal has a separate sphere of responsibilities as mandated in the Constitution of Nepal. These responsibilities complement the normal machinery of the Supreme Court, Office of the Attorney General, and other existing judicial and quasi-judicial bodies of Nepal. NHRCN submits its annual report of its functioning to the President, and the President causes that report to be laid through the Prime Minister before the Federal Parliament. The NHRCN motto, ‘Human rights for all, at every household: basis of peace and development’ has set a new goal to take human rights consciousness in every household.

The NHRCN was created in response to 1991 UN-sponsored meeting of the representatives of national institutions held in Paris. The meeting laid down Paris Principles, a detailed set of principles on the status of national institutions. These principles, subsequently endorsed by the UN Commission on Human Rights (Resolution 1992/54 of 3 March 1992) and the UN General Assembly (Resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993) have become the foundation and reference point for the establishment and operation of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal as well. The Commission is fully compliant with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) and has been accredited with “A” status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. This status of the Commission and an embodiment of Nepal's concern for the promotion, protection and respect of human rights paved way to Nepal to be elected as a member of United Nations Human Rights Council.