CSW welcomes renewed focus on constitution

As Nepal’s Constituent Assembly passed a bill on Monday to extend the deadline for a new constitution for a further three months, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reiterated its call for freedom of religion and other fundamental rights to be enshrined fully in the new constitution.

There is an air of expectancy in Nepal that the newly-elected Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, will be able to oversee the completion of the constitution-drafting process.

CSW has encouraged members of the Constituent Assembly to ensure the protection of full religious freedom within the new constitution, as a key fundamental right in keeping with Nepal’s commitments under international human rights instruments.

CSW’s most recent briefing on protecting religious freedom in Nepal, which has been presented to members of the Constituent Assembly, advises them not to include within either the constitution or penal code clauses such as “no person shall be entitled to convert another person from one religion to another”. The briefing points out that such proposed anti-conversion clauses are in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Nepal is a state party.

CSW’s South Asia Team Leader, David Griffiths, said, “There is a sense of optimism in Nepal about the prospects for finalising the constitution under the leadership of the new Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai. Whether that is possible within a three-month deadline remains to be seen. However, we continue to encourage members of the Constituent Assembly to take care that fundamental rights are enshrined fully in the new constitution, including freedom of religion, which would be restricted under the current proposals.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Matt Jones, Public Affairs Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0063, email matthewjones@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

Notes to editors:

1. To read and download a copy of CSW’s report, ‘Nepal: Protecting religious freedom for a new Nepal’, please click here.

2. The 10th amendment to the interim constitution was agreed by the Constituent Assembly two days ago, 29 August. It extends the deadline for a new constitution to 30 November 2011.