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Nepal made ‘no real progress’ on justice for conflict victims: International rights bodies

Conflict victims and their families stage a demonstration at Maitighar Mandala, on Monday, April 29, 2019.

Kathmandu, November 26

Four international human rights organisations have commented that Nepal has made no real progress on questions of justice, truth and reparation for the victims of gross human rights violations and abuses during the 10-year conflict.

Issuing a statement on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the organisations have said the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons have not been effective, and impunity and denial of access to justice to victims remain prevalent.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch (HRW), and TRIAL International say they are “particularly concerned about the recent moves that suggest the government will go forward with the appointing of commissioners without making necessary reforms to the legal framework.”

“It is astonishing that so little progress has been made in responding to the clearly articulated concerns and demands of conflict victims,” says Frederick Rawski, ICJ’s Asia-Pacific Director. “These demands have included a transparent and consultative process for the appointment of commissioners, and a genuine good-faith effort by political leaders and lawmakers to address serious weaknesses in the existing legal framework.”

“It is deeply disappointing that the government has repeatedly attempted to appoint the commissioners without adequate consultation and transparency. The commissions will not gain the trust of the victims and the international community if the political parties continue to interfere in the appointment process,” says Biraj Patnaik, South Asia Director at Amnesty International.

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