Officials of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Kathmandu-based diplomats and international organisations met Wednesday to discuss the Commission's human rights monitoring role. NHRC Chairman Nayan Bahadur Khatri briefed participants on the difficulties faced in human rights monitoring as an important confidence building measure towards strengthening the peace process as well as adherence by the parties to the Code of Conduct.

Khatri said: "It is yet to be seen whether any tangible agreement will be reached by the negotiating parties regarding human rights issues and particularly the Human Rights Accord, which was drafted and submitted by the Commission to the negotiating parties." But he added there was now a consensus in Nepali civil society about the need to step up confidence building measures for the peace process.

Outgoing UNDP representative, Henning Karcher, stressed the need to implement the Human Rights Accord by the negotiating parties to strengthen the peace process and improve the human rights situation in Nepal. The National Human Rights Commission has decided to take the initiative and start monitoring the overall human rights situation in the country, along with the human rights issues stated in the Code of Conduct through a Monitoring Consultative Committee.