5 July 2011. In a joint letter sent to Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal today, Advocacy Forum and Redress Trust (REDRESS) has urged the premier to take concrete steps in good faith to implement the views of the Human Rights Committee in Yubraj Giri’s case and also to take those views into account in its approach to other cases. (Click Letter To PM for the full text).
Mr Giri was arbitrarily arrested and detained, held in incommunicado detention in appalling conditions, tortured repeatedly, and subjected to ill-treatment in 2004-2005. Despite bringing this to the attention of the police and court authorities, including by attempting to file a criminal complaint, no investigation has been carried out into his treatment, and no person has been prosecuted.
The Committee unreservedly found Mr Giri and his family to be victims of multiple extremely serious violations of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and has called on Nepal to fulfil its obligation under the Covenant to provide Mr Giri and his family with an effective remedy.
Specifically, the Committee has stated that Nepal must: ensure a thorough and diligent investigation into the torture and ill-treatment suffered by Mr Giri; prosecute and punish those responsible; provide Mr Giri and his family with adequate compensation for the violations suffered; ensure that Mr Giri and his family are protected from acts of reprisals or intimidation; and prevent similar violations in the future.
