IFRC takes action against five NRCS office-bearers including President

Kathmandu, April 3: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) through the Compliance and Mediation Committee has issued a recommendation to the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) that five individuals should step down from governance and not be permitted to run in upcoming NRCS elections.     

They are President of NRCS Professor Sudarshan Prasad Nepal, Binod Kumar Basnet, Manoj Kumar Thapa, Bhupati Lal Shrestha and Narayan Timilsena.     

A press release issued today by IFRC Headquarters, Geneva, reads, "These individuals have been found to engage in political activities by promoting political party quotas on the NRCS governance membership. This is the violation of the Fundamental Principles of Neutrality and Independence, which all Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers around the world are required to uphold."     

 The CMC panel is reviewing information available to it, and additional individuals may also be requested to step down, reads the statement.     

"In addition, due to the failure of stakeholders to reach agreement on a process for a new constitution and elections, the CMC will be recommending sanctions against the NRCS to the IFRC Governing Board at its upcoming session in June 2025."     

This may include the termination of financial support to NRCS, among other measures, added the statement.     

IFRC added "These steps have been taken with great regret, after the IFRC has attempted for years, through the CMC, to mediate disputes between different groups claiming legitimacy as the NRCS’s governing body and to address allegations of misconduct, including but not limited to violations of the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement."     

The Compliance and Mediation Committee has requested the Government of Nepal to exercise its legal powers to institute a completely independent, non-political interim committee for the NRCS.     

"The IFRC’s goal is to ensure, for the long term, a healthy and integral NRCS that retains the confidence of the public, the authorities and its partners. The IFRC stands with the volunteers and staff of the NRCS in their efforts in public health, disaster risk management and volunteer mobilization. Should a disaster occur in a period of sanctions, the IFRC will always ensure that humanitarian needs are nevertheless met", reads the statement.(RSS)