Press Releases
U.S. Announces Donation of $2.3 Million To Defend Nepali Rights on International Human Rights Day
December 10, 2007
The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided a $2.3 million dollar grant to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to defend human rights in Nepal.
Announcing the grant on December 10th, International Human Rights Day, U. S. Ambassador Nancy J. Powell stated, "This 18 month grant demonstrates the American people’s support for critical human rights issues in Nepal. The $2.3 million dollars of assistance will be used to strengthen the OHCHR’s operations in Nepal and their efforts to protect the human rights of all Nepalis."
USAID Mission Director Beth Paige stated, "We support the Government of Nepal’s commitment to human rights protection for all Nepalis and are dedicated to keeping these issues center-stage as we engage Nepal’s development challenges."
Ambassador Powell began the day by joining the National Human Rights Council celebration of World Human Rights Day and will be attending Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s reception for this international event.
Ambassador Powell invited numerous Defenders of Women’s Human Rights in Nepal to a reception in their honour to close the day. In addition to recognizing the role of Nepalese women on World Human Rights Day, the reception also concludes the U.S. Embassy’s participation in "16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence", during which the United States Embassy hosted public screenings of films that highlight the struggle to end violence against women. As one participant stated, "These movie screenings brought much needed awareness to the human rights related problems women in Nepal encounter."