Foreword Human Rights Situation in Nepal in the Present Context The process of ceasefire and peace talks held between the government and the Maoists had led the peace loving people to expect long lasting peace in the country which had been gripped by terrorism for the past seven years. The growing trend of human rights violations is thus impeding the path of peace. Since its establishment, the Commission has been convinced that all problems can be solved only by holding peace talks between the parties in conflict. Talks should be held for maintaining long lasting peace because without peace, no campaign can be launched against poverty, social discrimination and uneven distribution of resources. During the period of the seven year long conflict, thousands of people have lost their lives and more than fifty thousand people have been constrained to live a painful life, worse than the life of refugees, in their own country leaving aside their houses. Likewise, thousands of women have become widows and thousands of children have been orphaned. Under such circumstances, the Commission was not prepared to remain simply as a silent spectator and, hence, it has been active for transforming the conflict into peace staying within the limitation of its resources and means. Human rights should be made the main agenda of the peace talk; in order to evoke sympathy of diverse groups like the political parties, government, civic society, and opposition forces towards this agenda, the Commission organised interactions with these groups time and again. The National Human Rights Commission can accomplish its mission towards protecting the human rights only when it would be able to acquire cooperation from the government, human rights associations and organisations, and civic society. In order to guarantee all the economic, social and cultural rights of the people, which include civic and political rights too, ceasefire and peace talk should be continuously maintained. Hence, at this critical situation, His Majesty's Government, political parties and the Maoists should remain honest towards honouring, protecting and maintaining human rights. And this only will help to fulfil the peoples' expectation for maintaining a long lasting peace. Nayan Bahadur Khatri Chairperson National Human Rights Commission