South Asians for Human Rights

Promoting Democracy, Upholding Human Rights

Nepali candidate, Dr Bhogendra Sharma, has been elected as a member of the Committee against Torture (CAT) in the election held in Geneva on Tuesday, during the 14th meeting of the States Parties to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The government had filed nomination for the post some four months ago. Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that Sharma was elected for the post.
This is the second time the Nepalese candidate elected to the Committee and the first time in last twenty years that Nepal has won an election to an important human rights treaty body. Sharma is one of the five members, who will have four years’ tenure beginning from Jan 2014. 
The Committee against Torture is composed of 10 independent experts who are persons of high moral charac