To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the government of Nepal on civilians who are missing following the conflict in that country in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (284013)

We regularly raise our concerns about human rights abuses with the Government of Nepal, both bilaterally and with the EU, at both official and ministerial level. This includes the issue of enforced and involuntary disappearances.

My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, raised our concerns about the human rights situation, including the need to make progress on investigations into the disappeared, with the then Nepalese Foreign Minister, Upendra Yadav, on 4 March 2009 in the margins of the 10th Human Rights Council Ministerial in Geneva. Lord Malloch-Brown specifically raised the case of Maina Sunuwar, the handling of which will be emblematic of many conflict-era disappearances. The UK also ensured that Nepal was specifically mentioned in the EU statement in the plenary of the 10th Human Rights Council.

Lord Malloch-Brown raised our concerns about the disappeared with Nepalese Foreign Secretary Acharya during his visit to Nepal in July 2008. He also raised the importance of transitional justice mechanisms with the National Human Rights Commission.

In Kathmandu, the EU missions have voiced their concerns on the draft Disappearances Bill prepared by the Government of Nepal, through press statements and high-level meetings. EU ambassadors also raised, in detail, the question of dealing with disappearances and the proposed Disappearances Commission with the Prime Minister and leaders of the four largest parties, in a series of discussions in January and February 2009.

Our embassy in Kathmandu has played an active part in the production of a local strategy to tackle impunity, of which addressing disappearances is a central theme. The embassy also financially supports victims groups, such as those in Bardiya District, in filing cases and advocating for justice.

We will continue to engage with the Government of Nepal to urge it to meet the commitments it has made to uphold and promote human rights, and to address past abuses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has had discussions with the Nepalese authorities in the last 12 months on those still missing following the country's armed conflict; and if he will make a statement. (285345)

We regularly raise our concerns about human rights abuses with the Government of Nepal, both bilaterally and with the EU, at both official and ministerial level. This includes the issue of enforced and involuntary disappearances.

My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, raised our concerns about the human rights situation, including the need to make progress on investigations into the disappeared, with the then Nepalese Foreign Minister, Upendra Yadav, on 4 March 2009 in the margins of the 10th Human Rights Council Ministerial in Geneva. Lord Malloch-Brown specifically raised the case of Maina Sunuwar, the handling of which will be emblematic of many conflict-era disappearances. The UK also ensured mat Nepal was specifically mentioned in the EU statement in the plenary of the 10th Human Rights Council.

Lord Malloch-Brown raised our concerns about the disappeared with Nepalese Foreign Secretary Acharya during his visit to Nepal in July 2008. He also raised the importance of transitional justice mechanisms with the National Human Rights Commission.

In Kathmandu, the EU missions have voiced their concerns on the draft Disappearances Bill prepared by the Government of Nepal, through press statements and high-level meetings. EU ambassadors also raised, in detail, the question of dealing with disappearances and the proposed Disappearances Commission with the Prime Minister and leaders of the four largest parties, in a series of discussions in January and February 2009.

Our embassy in Kathmandu has played an active part in the production of a local strategy to tackle impunity, of which addressing disappearances is a central theme. The embassy also financially supports victims groups, such as those in Bardiya District, in filing cases and advocating for justice.

We will continue to engage with the Government of Nepal to urge it to meet the commitments it has made to uphold and promote human rights, and to address past abuses.