Kathmandu: The Delegation of the European Union to Nepal has drawn the attention of the concerned authorities toward a factually incorrect news related to the EU giving 15 million rupees to Rupa Sunar to incite ethnic tensions in Nepal.
The EU Delegation to Nepal stands ready to provide further information on the EU’s activities and its partnership with Nepal, said the EU in its press release.
“Our mandate in Nepal focuses on a development partnership aiming at having a common understanding on issues of mutual concern and thereby working together to help Nepal achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and graduate from LDC status by 2026,” said EU Ambassador to Nepal, Nona Deprez.
The EU has established a strong relationship with Nepal since 1975 as a trusted partner and reliable friend. This relationship is not limited to extending financial support but also aims to collaborate jointly in different international fora on the issues of strategic significance and common interest, including global peace and order, stability, sustainable development, climate change among others, the press note further notes.
The EU says that it strictly provides financial support to Nepal through the government treasury, multilateral agencies and Civil Society Organisations operating in Nepal through a transparent and competitive process. “All the programmes outlined for the EU-Nepal cooperation adhere to ‘Leaving no One behind’, the overarching principle of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as realising the domestic policy provisions and the international commitments of Nepal,” said the press note.
The EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as well as peace and well-being of its peoples. These values are common to its member states in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail, the press note says.
“The EU shares with Nepal their common adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, based on the principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights without any kind of distinction,” says the press note.
According to the press note, the EU supports combating against discrimination, promoting participation and inclusive development process and development benefits shared by all on equitable and sustainable manner. It says that the EU has been consistently committed to going along with its Nepali partners and friends in the implementation of the Constitution of Nepal that expresses its determination to create a multi-caste, multilingual and multicultural society, by ending discriminations related to class, caste, region, language, religion and gender, including all forms of racial untouchability.
The press note further says that the EU has been working together with the National Human Rights Commission and around 300 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the promotion of the rights and protection of women and child rights, rights of the elderly and the marginalized communities under a rights based approach.
“In general, the EU has prioritized three key areas for cooperation—Green Growth and Green Recovery, Human Capital Development and Good Governance. Adherence and respect of human rights as a driver for peace, stability and development, is a cross cutting issue for all these interventions, as well their inclusiveness,” says the press release.
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