Noting that the challenge to human rights is "immense" in Nepal, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem (Navi) Pillay encouraged the civil society in the country to "continue to advocate".

Noting that the challenge to human rights is "immense" in Nepal, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem (Navi) Pillay encouraged the civil society in the country to "continue to advocate".

The high commissioner visited the country from 18-22 March, before her two-day mission to India.

"Until governments take meaningful steps to implement their promises to end impunity there will be no safety for those courageous individuals who devote themselves to seeing that the human rights of all persons", she said in an interaction with the civil society on 19 March.

In India she addressed "those dated and colonial-era laws that breach contemporary international human rights standards", such as the laws providing the security forces with excessive emergency powers and the ones criminalizing homosexuality. She also remarked that "religious and caste-based prejudices remain entrenched" in the country.  

(Photo courtesy of UN)