India assures Nepal of support for peace, stability

New Delhi, March 17: India has assured Nepal of all its support for ensuring peace and stability in the Himalayan nation, a statement by the external affairs ministry issued here on Thursday said.

"India will continue to extend all support and assistance to Nepal, for peace, stability and socio-economic development of the country," India said in its statement on the adoption of the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Nepal at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva on Wednesday.

"A climate of political stability, consensus and predictability is a pre-requisite for Nepal's socio-economic development, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in April 2015," it said.

"As the principal donor in global support for Nepal's post-earthquake reconstruction, India urges a strong national consensus in Nepal on its political and developmental agenda."

The UPR is a unique mechanism of the UNHRC aimed at improving the human rights situation on the ground of each of the 193 UN member states.

Under this mechanism, the human rights situation of all UN member states is reviewed every four-and-half-years. Forty-two states are reviewed each year during three Working Group sessions dedicated to 14 states each. These three sessions are usually held in January-February, May-June and October-November.

In its statement on Wednesday, India welcomed the delegation of Nepal for the adoption of the report of the UPR working group held on November 4, 2015.

"The UPR review reflected the intense participation and engagement by peer countries, with as many as 73 delegations taking the floor and 195 recommendations addressed to Nepal that cover a range of human rights both in the realm of promotion and protection," it said.

"It is encouraging to note that Nepal accepted as many as 152, which is nearly 80 percent, of the total recommendations."

It said India regarded the two constitutional amendments passed by the Nepal parliament in January this year as positive developments.

"We hope that other remaining issues will be similarly addressed in a constructive spirit in a defined time-frame," the statement said.

"India believes that Nepal has gained much from its participation in the UPR and will continue with its efforts to implement its recommendations," it added.

IANS