Statement by the Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal, at the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies
(22 September 2021)
Theme: Democracy and Resilience: Shared Goals
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I would like to thank the Government of Romania for organizing this 10th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies.
Twenty-one years ago, over a hundred countries including Nepal, endorsed the Warsaw Declaration upholding the 19 principles as the foundation to promoting and practicing universal values of democracy in order to offer the best possible governance to our people.
Since then, the world has witnessed the ebb and flow of democratic development including the misrepresentation of democratic values even in matured democracies.
This is a reminder that only through strong institutions we can protect and promote democracy and freedom from occasional temptations to derail it.
Mr. Chairman,
People of Nepal went through arduous struggles spanning over seven decades in pursuit of democracy, equality, justice, dignity and freedom.
The Constitution of Nepal, promulgated in 2015, consolidates those long held aspirations of Nepali people for inclusive multi-party democratic governance that ensures human rights, periodic elections, full press freedom, independent judiciary, and the rule of law.
Equality and non-discrimination constitute the bedrock of our Constitution. Today, women occupy 41 percent of the elected offices of Federal, Provincial and Local Bodies combined.
However, we are nowhere near perfection.
It has been our earnest endeavor to fill up the remaining gap and strive towards substantive equality under a democratic order.
Democratic governance that is inclusive, participatory and equitable can stand resilient to any shocks and turmoil including political radicalism, economic down turns, disasters, and the pandemics like COVID-19.
The inherent quality of democracy provides the space for organizing societies in the best possible manner by managing diversity, dissention and differences and promoting tolerance and respect for others.
As a member of this Community, Nepal remains committed to the principles enshrined in the Warsaw Declaration and enable our people to prosper in dignity and larger freedom.
I thank you all.