Setbacks for women, minorities in Nepal: report

As a result, some perpetrators of torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity could be granted amnesty in contravention of international law, it said.

The Supreme Court has since made a ruling that has had the effect of suspending the law.

In a positive move, in January British authorities arrested a Nepali army colonel suspected of torture during the civil war based on the principle of universal jurisdiction for torture.

The rape of a returning female migrant worker from Saudi Arabia in December 2012 by an airport police constable sparked widespread protests, and women's rights groups demanded reforms in current laws dealing with gender-based violence.

As part of this movement, women's groups also sought a review of Nepal's migration policies, including revocation of an August 2012 decree banning women under age 30 from travelling to Gulf countries for work.

In 2013, Nepali authorities continued to impose strict restrictions on Tibetans in Nepal, forbidding protests and gatherings.

Human Rights Watch called for the Nepali authorities to respect the rights of Tibetans in Nepal.