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Statement of the Delegation of the Kingdom of
Nepal
World Conference Against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Durban, South Africa, September 03, 2001
Madam Chairperson
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I bring greetings and best wishes to you and to this
Conference from His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev,
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, His Majesty's
Government and all Nepalese people. 'We are delighted to see you
in the Chair, representing the new South Africa where all men and
women, irrespective of race, colour or religion, are free and
equal. We congratulate you, your Government and all your people
for the achievements and wish you well in your continuing
endeavors. We thank you for hosting this important Conference and
for your warm hospitality.
Having had the privilege of presiding over the process leading
up to the formation of the Preparatory Committee for this
conference and having followed closely the work of the Prepcom,
under the able leadership of my dear friend and colleague
Ambassador Diallo of Senegal and the Secretary-General of the
Conference, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mrs. Mary
Robinson, I feel a personal sense of involvement with this
Conference. I know how hard you have worked. Under your
leadership I wish thi Conference all success.
Madam Chair,
The 20th century history of the human search for greater
dignity and rights is a mixed one. At the crossroads of the
second and third millennium, humanity has much to celebrate :
colonialism is a thing of the past, slavery is illegal, gender
equality, rights of the children, minorities and indigenous
peoples have come to occupy an important place in the human
rights agenda. As humanity embarks on its journey into the
21" century, development in science and technology have no
doubt created tremendous opportunities for further far reaching
social transformation. Amidst these positive developments,
however, a large section of the human family in the developing
world, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia continue to face
extreme poverty, deprivation, disease and ignorance, denial,
exclusion and marginalization. Many in the world still face
discrimination and subjugation. With so much potential for
prosperity and peaceful change, co-existence and cooperation,
acts of violence and conflict in the name of ethnicity, religion
or belief, evils of discrimination and domination is a sad
commentary on human wisdom. When will the wall of
misunderstanding, hatred and prejudice leading to injustice and
inequality disappear ? The growing inequality, largely the
present day manifestation of the wrongs of history continue to
pose a threat to collective human progress. President Mbeki is so
right when he says, « The process of globalization contains
within it the makings of an insoluble crisis that will affect
even its greatest beneficiaries, unless the :inherent tendency to
marginalize many is halted and reversed ». I would like to
record my appreciation to President Thabo Mbeki, Secretary
General Kofi Annan and High Commissioner Mary Robinson for their
words of wisdom which should guide our deliberations here and our
work beyond.
Madam Chairperson
In the Nepalese context, the Constitution of the Kingdom of
Nepal 1990, promulgated with the widest possible participation of
the people, in whom sovereignty is now vested for the first time
in Nepal's history, guarantees non discrimination on grounds of
religion, race, sex, caste or tribe, ideological conviction or
any of these. Article 11 of the Constitution provides that all
citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal
protection of the law. The Constitution guarantees basic human
rights to every citizen, consolidating the institution of adult
franchise, constitutional monarchy and a system of multi-party
democracy and an independent and competent judiciary. Commitment
of His Majesty's Government to promote human rights by
eliminating any and all forms of discrimination are clearly
reflected in the legislative, administrative and other measures
taken by the Government since the restoration of multi-party
democracy in 1990.
Despite these measures unfortunate acts of injustice based on
gender, caste division and the practice of untouchability,
exploitation of large sections of the dalits who continue to be
victims of ethnic, religious, cultural, social and economic
injustices affecting parts of our society stand as major
challenges in our effort of creating an inclusive society in
which all our people enjoy greater dignity and rights.
Inequality, growing signs of distrust and division, conflict and
violence in a. society well known for its tradition of tolerance,
ethno-religious harmony in the midst: of geophysical and
socio-cultural diversity are indeed painful developments. While
we recognize these challenges, we also stress our determination
to build our society on the foundation of justice and morality
through more equitable distribution of available resources and
economic gains, emphasizing harmony amongst all religions,
languages, races and communities. HMG has ratified several and is
committed to the fulfilment of the obligations of international
human rights instruments to uplift all including national
minorities and and indegenous peoples.
In a statement of public importance to the Parliament
recently, on August 16, the Prime Minister announced special
programmes of far reaching reforms including land reform,
abolition of social discrimination such as untouchability,
women's property rights and other forms of discrimination against
women. The Prime Minister announced the prohibition of any kind
of social discrimination based on caste, making prohibition of
entry into public places including places of worship or the
practice of untouchability a crime punishable by law. Government
will present a bill at this session of Parliament aimed at
eradicating this kind of attitude from society. He also announced
the decision of the Government to form a National Commission on
Dalits, after consultations with all concerned. Similarly, a bill
for the establishment of a fully empowered and effective academy
for the upliftment of religion, culture and language of the
indigenous and ethnic minorities, left behind due to various
economic and social reasons, would be presented to this session
of Parliament.
As other historic and forward looking steps in the process of
greater social justice, the Prime Minister announced the decision
of the Government to try to get a bill aimed at giving equal
property rights to women passed at the current session of
Parliament and present a bill for the establishment of a National
Commission on Women to work for ending any acts of exploitation,
injustice and discrimination against women. A 25 year Special
Action Plan designed to expedite the process of social
transformation as a national priority by ensuring opportunities
in education and employment for those deprived of their
socio-economic and political rights such as women, dalits, ethnic
minorities and indigenous people would also be announced through
the current session of Parliament. We would like to see all forms
of discrimination including the evil of untouchability
eradicated.
As socio-economic factors such as poverty and illiteracy
exacerbate other forms of discrimination, His Majesty's
Government has made poverty reduction and education topmost
policy priorities. Special targeted programmes designed to assist
the most vulnerable groups in society and bring about changes at
the grass roots have been launched. A programme for the
rehabilitation of the Kamayas , Time bound programme for the
elimination of child labour, programme against trafficking of
women and children, provision of old age and disability
allowances and equal pay for equal work are some examples. Of
course, values and attitudes change slowly. Such changes do not
come only with legislation or action of Government alone. Our
open political space enables all, including civil society to
participate actively in the process of national development. We
appreciate the support and cooperation of the international
community in our development endeavours. Our actions reflect our
determination to fight all forms of discrimination within our own
country and always raise our voice against the manifestations of
these evils everywhere. As we do so we must express our alarm at
the emergence of ideas of racial superiority in some parts of the
world, the plight of refugees and migrant workers and negative
stereotyping of certain groups of people of Asian and African
origin by some.
Madam Chairperson,
Durban has a special place in the march towards emancipation.
It is here that Mahatma Gandhi started his movement that inspired
the independence movements in many parts of Asia and Africa.
Although always an independent Kingdom, Nepal always stood in
solidarity with those who suffered from colonialism and the evils
of the slave trade or its other manifestations. Nepal's active
role in the Committee Against Apartheid in the United Nations is
a testimony of our solidarity with the people of Africa in their
struggle against racism.
The struggles of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson
Mandela represent the principles of transformation through
non-violence and tolerance. It is our hope that Durban once again
becomes a defining venue where we board the train crossing the
barrier of prejudice and intolerance, passing through the bridge
of solidarity among all members of the human family. The
delegation of the Kingdom of Nepal has come to Durban with the
philosophy « Basu dhaiba Kutumbhakam », which means treat every
human being as a family. This is a philosophy whose time has
come. Sekunjalo.
Thank you.
Posted on 2001-10-03
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