Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam announced on Wednesday that the government is gearing up to enhance its national law making efforts by passing and drafting a total of 166 laws in this fiscal year.
This announcement came during Tuesday’s House of Representatives session, where Gautam stated that more than 40 bills have already been submitted in parliament, signaling the government’s commitment to comprehensive legislative reform.
Disaster Resilience in Focus
Responding to lawmakers’ inquiries regarding the recently proposed international agreement Bio diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), part of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Minister Gautam emphasized the pressing need for a complete overhaul of our development and legal frameworks in light of recent natural disasters.
- “We need future laws on infrastructure and development to prioritize climate and disaster resilience to safeguard public assets and human lives,” she explained. “The Ministry of Law is also dedicated to bridging the divide between signing international treaties and translating these commitments into effective domestic legislation.”
- Additionally, she noted the intention to incorporate local and indigenous knowledge into upcoming legislation drafts. “There’s significant momentum to create these laws with disaster resilience in mind. We must develop a resilient model for our growth, and the government is committed to this goal.”
- Gautam underscored the importance of enacting these essential laws promptly, stating, “It is not enough to simply sign various agreements; timeliness in legislation is crucial.”
During the same legislative session on Monday, she proposed that parliament formally ratify the BBNJ treaty, which emphasizes the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions. Following discussions on its implications for Nepal’s international responsibilities and environmental management, the House of Representatives reached a unanimous agreement to proceed with the ratification.