Int'l Community applauds progress on constitution drafting in Nepal

The International community in Nepal on Friday applauded the ongoing progress in the constitution drafting process, and the efforts shown by all political parties to finalize the constitution in the near future.

On behalf of the International Community in Nepal, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick, said that the political parties have an opportunity to build momentum through a public consultation process that gives all Nepal's citizens a full opportunity to express their views and to build common ownership of the draft constitution.

The statement came just a day after a meeting of the 598-member Constituent Assembly of Nepal endorsed an action plan to collect public feedback on the preliminary draft of the constitution.

The work plan was approved with majority votes amid protest by the lawmakers of the Madhes-based parties. As per the action plan, the Committee on Citizens Relations and Constitution Feedback has begun the procedures of collecting public consultation on the draft from Thursday.

CA members and secretariat staff will visit 240 electoral constituencies and 75 districts to seek people's feedback on the draft. General public can also send their suggestions through telephone, fax, email and participation in the interaction programs with lawmakers on July 20 and 21.

The committee is scheduled to present a report incorporating the suggestions and feedback from the people in 15 days, starting from Thursday.

"The international community trusts that the political leaders honor their commitments to fundamental human rights, gender equality and inclusiveness in the constitution in line with the international laws, to which Nepal is a signatory," read a statement issued by the UN Office in Kathmandu.

In the statement, the international community has expressed hope that the accomplishment of a democratic and inclusive constitution, providing for the interests, equity and rights of women and men from all sections of Nepali society would build on the positive achievements of past agreements.

"With this fundamental and guiding document, the political leadership has a historic opportunity to inspire a peaceful, united, inclusive and democratic future of Nepal," the statement further added.

Ending a long saga over the key contentious issues of the new constitution, major political parties of Nepal hammered out a 16- point deal on June 8, which had paved a way to ensure promulgating the new constitution in the Himalayan country. Endi