What is a New Year Campaign?

The New Year Campaign is an initiative of National Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC), Coordinator Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) on the occasion of Nepali New Year of 2064 urging the government of Nepal for an immediate accession to the Rome Statute. Starting from 1 Baishakh (14 April) this campaign will be continue until the end of Baishakh 2064 (14 May 2007).

Objective

Main objective of the campaign is to involve individuals and organizations demanding immediate accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by the government of Nepal from national and international level. Major Activity

Letter to the Prime Minister Individuals and organizations send a letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal directly from NCICC/INSEC Nepal Campaign website or by mail or fax. An electronic version of the letter can be downloaded from the above website.

Once sending from Nepal Campaign website the main letter reaches to the official email of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council Ministers and copies to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Interim Legislative-Parliament Secretariat.

Background

On 25 July 2006, Nepal's House of Representatives issued a unanimous commitment resolution directing the government accede to the Rome Statute. In August 2006, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Speaker of the House of Representatives and leaders of political parties affirmed their full commitment for the court while responding to the Asian Delegation for the ICC. In October 2006, the government formed an inter-ministerial Task Force to assess impacts of Nepal after becoming a party to the Rome Statute. The Task Force submitted its report to the government in December 2006. While receiving the report, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs had assured that the government would soon begin the process required to join the ICC.

Recently, the government has expressed commitment to end impunity and ensure human rights and the rule of law in a Common Minimum Programme of April 2007. Such commitments are also incorporated in the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed between the government and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in November 2006. Nepal's Interim Constitution, 2007 expresses full commitments towards democratic norms and values including human rights, full freedom of press, and independence of judiciary and concept of the rule of law.

The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of more than half of the world’s nations. One hundred and four states from across the globe have acceded to or ratified the Statute and 139 are signatories.

Take Action Now!

Support the NCICC's appeal by sending letter by mail or fax urging the government of Nepal to accede to the Rome Statute as soon as possible.