NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Dr. Gouri Shankar Lal Das, Acting Secretary Kedar Prasad Paudyal highlighted the effectiveness of the workshop. At the concluding function, Commission advisor Dr. Bipin Adhikari presented certificates to the participants. 8. Human Rights Monitoring Training for NGO representatives in Kanchanpur A three-day Human Rights Monitoring Training for representatives of Kanchanpur based NGOs was organised on 27-29 June 2004 in the district under the chairmanship of Honourable Commissioner Dr. Gouri Shankar Lal Das. Former justice of the Supreme Court, chief district officer, vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, vice president of Nepal Bar Association also attended the programme. A wide range of topics including the scope, jurisdiction, duties and activities of the National Human Rights Commission, as well as national and international human rights principles, and historical background of human rights were discussed in the programme. It also covered the responsibilities of the state towards protection and promotion of human rights. A similar training programme had also been organised on 19-20 June 2004 in Hetauda of Makwanpur district. 9. Human Rights Monitoring Training in Biratnagar Under the chairmanship of Commissioner Sushil Pyakurel, a two-day human rights monitoring and documentation training programme has held on 29-30 January 2004 in Biratnagar, the major town in the Eastern Development Region. Human rights organistions, Nepal Bar Association, Federation of Nepalese Journalists, as well human rights advocacy activists attended the programme.The training aimed basically at enhancing capacity of the local level manpower and organisations in monitoring, analysing and documenting the incidents of human rights violation. The team of resource persons of the training programme included Shankar Nath Adhikari and Hari Phuyal of the Commission, and an ICRC (International Red Cross Committee) representative. 10. Seminar on the Torture against women over Witchcraft charges A one-day seminar on the legal provisions relating to the torture meted out against women on the charge of witchery, and its remedies was organised on 7 August 2003. 3.4.7. Discussions and Interactions In order to accomplish its obligation towards the protection and promotion of human rights as per the Human Rights Commission Act 1997, the Commission has been organising discussion/interaction programmes with various persons at different times. 24