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NHRC plans human rights academy

Graphic: NHRC officer leads a training program on torture prevention

The Commission has set out plans to open a training academy that will support security officials, law enforcement officers and others in their work.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it is planning to establish a training academy to educate government and non-governmental representatives on key human rights issues, The Kathmandu Post reported.

According to the report, the NHRC is currently preparing the legal framework for the human rights academy. It is expected to open in 2019.

The academy will provide extended and short-term training courses to address the needs of different professions, including law enforcement, military, civil service and teaching.

The Kathmandu Post reported that the NHRC has proposed stalling the promotion of security personnel above officer level if they are not adequately trained in human rights, as required by their profession.

The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have their own academies that provide training on a range of topics, including on basic human rights. In addition, the National Staff and Administrative College and the National Judicial Academy provide training for civil servants.

However, these facilities do not offer the advanced training that officer level staff must have.


Graphic: NHRC Chairperson Justice Anup Raj Sharma


NHRC Chairperson Justice Anup Raj Sharma said that the understanding and application of human rights continues to evolve over time and a human rights training academy is necessary to address these changing dynamics.

The NHRC said it intends to partner with Tribhuvan University and Hong Kong University on some academic courses.

NHRC Member Prakash Osti said some donor agencies, including the UN, have assured their financial support to the academy, provided it is established by legislation and the government takes responsibility for financing its operation.

"The services provided by government and non-governmental agencies should fully abide by human rights principles. Therefore, everyone working within these institutions must have knowledge of these issues," he said.

Osti also noted that the NHRC would seek input from experts working in different agencies in order to finalise the shape of the academy and prepare its curriculum.

Date: 6 November 2018

Source: The Kathmandu Post


Image credits

  1. NHRC officer leads a training program on torture prevention - National Human Rights Commission of Nepal
  2. NHRC Chairperson Justice Anup Raj Sharma - National Human Rights Commission of Nepal