the Associate Coordinator of the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC). (d) Mr. Sushil Pyakurel: Mr. Sushil Pyakurel represents the human rights activists in the Commission. Born in 1951, Mr. Pyakurel entered journalism with the "Samay" daily and "Prachi", a literary publication, in 1972, thus beginning his affiliation with the social sector almost three decades ago. Mr. Pyakurel is among the founders of the Nepal National Teachers Organization established in 1979. A founder of the oldest human rights organization in the country, the Human Rights Protection Forum, Mr. Pyakurel is also the founder chairperson of the Informal Sector Service Centre established in 1989. He was a central member of the United Left Front prior to the popular mass movement of 1990. A founder General Secretary of the South Asian Human Rights Forum, Mr. Pyakurel is a former Board Member of the Bangkok based Asia Pacific regional human rights organization called Forum Asia. Mr. Pyakurel, who served as the General Secretary of the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC), is the Vice-chairperson of the organization related to election observation, the Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL). Mr. Pyakural has since 1986 participated in various human rights related seminars and conferences held in more then 30 countries of the world. (e) Ms. Indira Rana, Member: Ms. Indira Rana is a former Secretary of the Government. She has an M. Phil. in Population and Law from Harvard University of the United States and a B. L. and M. A. in Political Science from the Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu. Ms. Rana, after serving for many years in various posts as judge, registrar in courts, Ministry of Law and Justice and other judicial bodies of the government, retired as Secretary of the Judicial Council Secretariat and the Judicial Service Commission. Ms. Rana is the first woman in the history of Nepal to perform the last cremation and other rites following the death of her mother. As coordinator of the International Women’s Year Law Committee, 1975, she made significant contributions for the equal rights of women during the sixth amendment of the National civil code of Nepal. Ms. Indira Rana has served as a leader, founder and volunteer of various national and international organizations, such as the Nepal Red Cross SocietyKathmandu Branch, Nepal Cancer Relief society, Nepal Family Planning Association, Nepal Anti Tuberculosis Prevention Association, Nepal Children’s Organization, Senior Citizen Welfare Association, SAARC Law Nepal, Nepal Law Society, International Commission on Jurists, International Law Association, International Federation of Women Lawyers Association America, Rotary Club Kathmandu, Lions Club Kathmandu, United Nations Women Association, Business and Professional Women Club, National Election Observation Committee and Harvard Alumni Association Nepal. Decorated with various national awards such as the Prakhyat Trishakti Patt, Suprabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu, etc. and international awards such as the Nafis Sadik Award, the Paul Harris Fellowship and Woman of the Year 2001, Ms. Rana has written books on law and numerous research papers on women’s rights and other topics. Apart from representing Nepal in the United Nations General Assembly, Ms. Rana