OHCHR / NEPAL ESCALATING VIOLENCE

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said Tuesday he was appalled by the escalating violence in Nepal that has resulted in multiple deaths and the injury of hundreds of mostly young protesters, as well as the widespread destruction of property. OHCHR

• Video Length: 00:01:45
• Production Date: 9 September 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: VOLKER TÜRK
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS- UNHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS; HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: NEPAL
• MAMS Id: 3445542
• Parent Id: 3445542
• Alternate Title: unifeed250909h

Description

STORY: OHCHR / NEPAL ESCALATING VIOLENCE
TRT: 01:45
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 09 SEPTEMBER 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I am appalled by the escalating violence in Nepal that has resulted in multiple deaths and the injury of hundreds of mostly young protesters, as well as the widespread destruction of property.
I plead with security forces to exercise utmost restraint, and to avoid further such bloodshed and harm. Violence is not the answer.
Dialogue is the best and only way to address the concerns of the Nepalese people. It is important that the voices of young people are heard.
Protesters have the right to express peacefully their political frustrations and grievances over corruption and a ban on social media platforms.
I have received concerning reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the security forces. I call for urgent, thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into such acts.
I am also disturbed by reports of public buildings, businesses and private residences being attacked and, in some instances, set ablaze. Equally, I am concerned by reports of physical attacks on senior government officials. I remind protesters that they too must uphold the spirit of peaceful assembly and refrain from violence.
The world has admired Nepal’s emergence from conflict to become a peaceful democracy, and I appeal to all Nepalese stakeholders to find a way forward to continue on that path.
Together with the United Nations system, my Office stands ready to support dialogue and trust-building measures that can help de-escalate tensions and restore confidence.”

Storyline

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said today (9 Sep) he was appalled by the escalating violence in Nepal that has resulted in multiple deaths and the injury of hundreds of mostly young protesters, as well as the widespread destruction of property.

“I am appalled by the escalating violence in Nepal that has resulted in multiple deaths and the injury of hundreds of mostly young protesters, as well as the widespread destruction of property.

I plead with security forces to exercise utmost restraint, and to avoid further such bloodshed and harm. Violence is not the answer.

Dialogue is the best and only way to address the concerns of the Nepalese people. It is important that the voices of young people are heard.

Protesters have the right to express peacefully their political frustrations and grievances over corruption and a ban on social media platforms.

I have received concerning reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the security forces. I call for urgent, thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into such acts.

I am also disturbed by reports of public buildings, businesses and private residences being attacked and, in some instances, set ablaze. Equally, I am concerned by reports of physical attacks on senior government officials. I remind protesters that they too must uphold the spirit of peaceful assembly and refrain from violence.

The world has admired Nepal’s emergence from conflict to become a peaceful democracy, and I appeal to all Nepalese stakeholders to find a way forward to continue on that path.
Together with the United Nations system, my Office stands ready to support dialogue and trust-building measures that can help de-escalate tensions and restore confidence.”