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The 16 Point Agreement

  • Country/entity

    Nepal
  • Region

    Asia and Pacific
  • Agreement name

    The 16 Point Agreement
  • Date

    8 Jun 2015
  • Agreement status

    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement

    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level

    Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Nepalese Insurgency (1996 - 2006) )
  • Stage

    Implementation/renegotiation
  • Conflict nature

    Government
  • Peace process

    Nepal peace process
  • Parties

    Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister and President, Nepali Congress
    KP Sharma Oli, Chairman, CPN-UML
    Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman, UCPN (Maoist)
    Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Chairman, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik
  • Third parties

    -
  • Description

    A short agreement agreeing details of the parliament and electoral system, the forms of government, the federal division of the country, the judicial system, and local government elections.


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group

    No specific mention.

  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration
    Page 1, 1. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal will have eight provinces based on five criteria of identity and four criteria of capability.

    Page 1, 2. Two-thirds majority of provincial assemblies will name the provinces.

    Page 1, 3. The Nepal government will form a federal commission to recommend on demarcation of federal provinces. The commission will have a tenure of six months. The Legislature-Parliament will take a final decision on the demarcation with a two-thirds majority after the recommendation of the commission.

    Page 1, Forms of Government: 7. To run the state affairs, a federal democratic republic multiparty parliamentary system of governance will be adopted. The leader of the party having a clear majority or having support of other parties in Parliament will become the executive prime minister.

    Page 1, Forms of Government: 8. There will be a constitutional President in Nepal. An electoral college of the federal legislature parliament and provincial assemblies will elect the President.
    (The UCPN (Maoist) has its differences on the parliamentary system of governance and the constitutional president. Despite this, the party agrees to taking forward the constitution writing process.)
  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation
    Page 1, 3. The Nepal government will form a federal commission to recommend on demarcation of federal provinces. The commission will have a tenure of six months. The Legislature-Parliament will take a final decision on the demarcation with a two-thirds majority after the recommendation of the commission.
  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)
    Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→New political institutions (indefinite)
    Page 1, 2. Two-thirds majority of provincial assemblies will name the provinces.

    Page 1, Parliament and Electoral System: 4. There will be a bicameral parliament comprising federal legislature parliament and the upper house. Provincial parliaments will be unicameral.

    Page 1, Parliament and Electoral System: 5. Mixed electoral system will be adopted for parliamentary election. There will be 275 members in Parliament. There will be 165 constituencies based on geography and population. A total of 165 lower house members will be elected through first-past-the-post (FPTP) system. The rest—110–will be elected through the proportional representation system.

    Page 1, Parliament and Electoral System: The upper house will have 45 members–40 of the members will be elected equally from each federal province. The remaining five will be nominated by President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

    Page 1, Forms of Government: 7. To run the state affairs, a federal democratic republic multiparty parliamentary system of governance will be adopted. The leader of the party having a clear majority or having support of other parties in Parliament will become the executive prime minister.

    Page 1, Forms of Government: 8. There will be a constitutional President in Nepal. An electoral college of the federal legislature parliament and provincial assemblies will elect the President.
    (The UCPN (Maoist) has its differences on the parliamentary system of governance and the constitutional president. Despite this, the party agrees to taking forward the constitution writing process.)

    Page 1, Forms of Government: 9. After the promulgation of the new constitution, the election of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held by the transformed Legislature-Parliament as per the Interim Constitution-2007.

    Page 2, Local Body Election: 16. The election of local bodies will be held as soon as possible to strengthen the representation and participation of the people.
    Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→Temporary new institutions
    Page 1, 3. The Nepal government will form a federal commission to recommend on demarcation of federal provinces. The commission will have a tenure of six months. The Legislature-Parliament will take a final decision on the demarcation with a two-thirds majority after the recommendation of the commission.


    Page 2, Forms of Government: 10. Until the next election of the House of Representatives, the transformed Legislature-Parliament will hold the election of the Prime Minister, vote of confidence, no confidence motion and Cabinet formation as per the Interim Constitution-2007. The impeachment of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker will be in accordance with the Interim Constitution-2007.
  • Elections
    Page 1, Parliament and Electoral System: 5. Mixed electoral system will be adopted for parliamentary election. There will be 275 members in Parliament. There will be 165 constituencies based on geography and population. A total of 165 lower house members will be elected through first-past-the-post (FPTP) system. The rest—110–will be elected through the proportional representation system.

    Page 2, Local Body Election: 16. The election of local bodies will be held as soon as possible to strengthen the representation and participation of the people.
  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution
    Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
    Page 1, Forms of Government: 8. There will be a constitutional President in Nepal. An electoral college of the federal legislature parliament and provincial assemblies will elect the President.
    (The UCPN (Maoist) has its differences on the parliamentary system of governance and the constitutional president. Despite this, the party agrees to taking forward the constitution writing process.)

    Page 2, Judicial System: 12. The Supreme Court will be the court of record. It will be authorised to make final interpretation of the constitution.

    Page 2, Judicial System: 13. A Constitutional Court will be formed in order to settle disputes on the jurisdictions between the provinces and the Centre, between provinces, between provinces and local bodies, and election-related disputes of the House of Representatives, National Assembly and provincial assemblies. The Constitutional Court shall have the final decision on these issues. The court will be chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and will comprise two senior-most justices, and two legal experts who are qualified for the post of Supreme Court Justice. The tenure of the Constitutional Court will be 10 years from the promulgation of the new constitution.

    Page 2, Judicial System: 15. The constitution writing process will be taken forward based on the spirit of this fundamental agreement on federalism, forms of government, electoral system, and judicial system.

Power sharing

  • Political power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Territorial power sharing
    Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Federal or similar sub-divided government
    Page 1, 1. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal will have eight provinces based on five criteria of identity and four criteria of capability.

    Page 1, 2. Two-thirds majority of provincial assemblies will name the provinces.

    Page 1, Parliament and Electoral System: 4. There will be a bicameral parliament comprising federal legislature parliament and the upper house. Provincial parliaments will be unicameral.
  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation

    No specific mention.

  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication

    No specific mention.

  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law

    No specific mention.

  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts
    Page 2, Judicial System: 11. An independent, impartial and efficient judicial system will be formed as per the concept of independent judiciary.

    Page 2, Judicial System: 12. The Supreme Court will be the court of record. It will be authorised to make final interpretation of the constitution.

    Page 2, Judicial System: 13. A Constitutional Court will be formed in order to settle disputes on the jurisdictions between the provinces and the Centre, between provinces, between provinces and local bodies, and election-related disputes of the House of Representatives, National Assembly and provincial assemblies. The Constitutional Court shall have the final decision on these issues. The court will be chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and will comprise two senior-most justices, and two legal experts who are qualified for the post of Supreme Court Justice. The tenure of the Constitutional Court will be 10 years from the promulgation of the new constitution.

    Page 2, Judicial System: 14. The provision on the formation of the Judicial Council will be as determined by the Interim Constitution-2007.
  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • Taxation

    No specific mention.

  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights

    No specific mention.

  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage

    No specific mention.

  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees

    No specific mention.

  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
    Page 1, Forms of Government: 8. There will be a constitutional President in Nepal. An electoral college of the federal legislature parliament and provincial assemblies will elect the President.
    (The UCPN (Maoist) has its differences on the parliamentary system of governance and the constitutional president. Despite this, the party agrees to taking forward the constitution writing process.)
  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims

    No specific mention.

  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    NP News Portal: http://www.npnewsportal.com/the-16-point-agreement-full-text/ (unofficial translation)

The 16-point agreement

1. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal will have eight provinces based on five criteria of identity and four criteria of capability.

2. Two-thirds majority of provincial assemblies will name the provinces.

3. The Nepal government will form a federal commission to recommend on demarcation of federal provinces.

The commission will have a tenure of six months.

The Legislature-Parliament will take a final decision on the demarcation with a two-thirds majority after the recommendation of the commission.

Parliament and Electoral System

4. There will be a bicameral parliament comprising federal legislature parliament and the upper house.

Provincial parliaments will be unicameral.

5. Mixed electoral system will be adopted for parliamentary election.

There will be 275 members in Parliament.

There will be 165 constituencies based on geography and population.

A total of 165 lower house members will be elected through first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.

The rest—110–will be elected through the proportional representation system.

6. The upper house will have 45 members–40 of the members will be elected equally from each federal province.

The remaining five will be nominated by President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

Forms of Government

7. To run the state affairs, a federal democratic republic multiparty parliamentary system of governance will be adopted.

The leader of the party having a clear majority or having support of other parties in Parliament will become the executive prime minister.

8. There will be a constitutional President in Nepal.

An electoral college of the federal legislature parliament and provincial assemblies will elect the President. (

The UCPN (Maoist) has its differences on the parliamentary system of governance and the constitutional president.

Despite this, the party agrees to taking forward the constitution writing process.)

9. After the promulgation of the new constitution, the election of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held by the transformed Legislature-Parliament as per the Interim Constitution-2007.

10. Until the next election of the House of Representatives, the transformed Legislature-Parliament will hold the election of the Prime Minister, vote of confidence, no confidence motion and Cabinet formation as per the Interim Constitution-2007.

The impeachment of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker will be in accordance with the Interim Constitution-2007.

Judicial System

11. An independent, impartial and efficient judicial system will be formed as per the concept of independent judiciary.

12. The Supreme Court will be the court of record.

It will be authorised to make final interpretation of the constitution.

13. A Constitutional Court will be formed in order to settle disputes on the jurisdictions between the provinces and the Centre, between provinces, between provinces and local bodies, and election-related disputes of the House of Representatives, National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

The Constitutional Court shall have the final decision on these issues.

The court will be chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and will comprise two senior-most justices, and two legal experts who are qualified for the post of Supreme Court Justice.

The tenure of the Constitutional Court will be 10 years from the promulgation of the new constitution.

14. The provision on the formation of the Judicial Council will be as determined by the Interim Constitution-2007.

15. The constitution writing process will be taken forward based on the spirit of this fundamental agreement on federalism, forms of government, electoral system, and judicial system.

Local Body Election

16. The election of local bodies will be held as soon as possible to strengthen the representation and participation of the people.

Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister and President, Nepali Congress

KP Sharma Oli, Chairman, CPN-UML

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman, UCPN (Maoist)

Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Chairman, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik