News

AF Organized Consultation Meeting on Juvenile Justice in Nepal

AF Organized Consultation Meeting on Juvenile Justice in Nepal

1st October 2021, Kathmandu: AF organized a consultation meeting on “Child Rights and Juvenile Justice System in Nepal” in Alfa House, New Baneshwor Kathmandu on 1 October 2021. The event was chaired by AF’s Board Member Advocate Sitasharan Mandal and the Honorable Judge Raju Kumar Khatiwoda was the Chief Guest. In the meeting AF’s Legal Officer Kumar Prasad Thapaliya presented AF's data and findings collected from detention centers and Child Correction Homes. Advocate Rabindra Bhattarai and the district judge Raju Kumar Khatiwoda presented separate workpapers which were analyzed and commented by Advocate Ajaya Shankar Jha. AF’s lawyer Advocate Pushpa Raj Paudel facilitated the program. In the meeting altogether 30 participants (7 Female and 23 Male) including Police, Government Attorneys, defense lawyers, Central Child Welfare Board, representative of Child Correction Home and other persons from the concerned organization were participated in the event. 

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7 Years’ Death Anniversary of Nanda Prasad Adhikari commemorated in Kathmandu.

7 Years’ Death Anniversary of Nanda Prasad Adhikari commemorated in Kathmandu.

22 September 2021, Kathmandu: Commemorating the 7 years of Nanda Prasad Adhikari’s death, a commemoration event was organized on 22 September 2021, in front of Bir Hospital, Kathmandu. The program was attended by human rights defenders, lawyers, conflict victims, members of civil societies and media personnel.

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AF and Civil Society Organizations Submitted a Memorandum to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, recommended the Government to counter the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

AF and Civil Society Organizations Submitted a Memorandum to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, recommended the Government to counter the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

21 September 2021, Kathmandu: Advocacy Forum-Nepal in collaboration with Amnesty International Nepal, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Justice and Rights Institute Nepal (JuRI- Nepal) and International Network for Nepali Journalists (INNJA) handed over a submission to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs enlisting a set of recommendations on dealing with COVID-19 pandemic. The submission provided the recommendations on the overall COVID-19 pandemic and particularly on i) quarantine and isolation facilities ii) access to health services during the COVID-19 pandemic iii) health worker-related issues iv) issues related to gender justice v) issues on violation of the right to freedom of expression vi) private health services and lastly on vii) vaccines.

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AF Coordinated Medical Check-up for Children at Child Correction Home, Banke

With Advocacy Forum (AF) –Nepal’s coordination, Nepalgunj- High Court Bar Association, Nepalgunj and Banke District Court Bar Association organized a free Eye and Ear Check-up on 1 September 2021 for the children of Child Correction Home, Banke. Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Banke, Fateh Bal Eye Hospital, Fultekra and Brinos Ear Care Center, Banke provided free check-up service in the camp.

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Case Updates

Emblematic Cases

Among the hundreds of cases documented, Advocacy Forum has selected altogether 15 representative cases that show an endemic pattern of obstruction of justice, brazen abuse or total disregard of the law and deliberate attempts to escape accountability. The cases are also selected on the basis of their availability of evidence and wider public appeal. AF launches campaigns with other national and international organizations to establish accountability in those cases with a view to opening the door of justice to thousands of other similar cases.
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First Information Reports

First Information Report (FIR) is a formal complaint lodged with the police or District Administration Office by the victim of a cognizable offence or by someone on his/her behalf.  As per the existing legal system in Nepal, victims or their representatives do not have direct access to the courts. In criminal cases, police have exclusive jurisdiction to investigate and process evidence to the public prosecutors who then register the cases in court. However, the police authorities not only dillydally to register FIRs but also fail to carry out effective investigations. AF has been helping victims and their families to file FIRs and seeking mandamus orders for the effective investigations on the cases.
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Human Rights Committee Submissions

Advocacy Forum is the first organization in Nepal to use individual complaint mechanism under the First Optional Protocol of International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). According to the said protocol, individuals, whose countries are party to the ICCPR and the protocol, who claim their rights guaranteed by the ICCPR have been breached, and who have exhausted existing domestic legal remedies in the pursuit of justice, can submit written communications to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC). This particular effort of AF has opened the space of Nepali lawyers to international litigation.
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Torture Compensation Cases

Advocacy Forum legally intervenes on behalf of detainees who claimed to have been tortured by police and forest officers in government detention facilities. Upon consent by victims, AF attorneys register suits, and represent victims in court seeking for torture compensation under the Torture Compensation Act -1996 and necessary action against the perpetrators.
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Initiatives

Case Communication

Advocacy Forum reports urgent cases of human rights violations to UN-OHCHR, AHRC and to some specific organizations such as Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, OMCT, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, diplomatic communities, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution and the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances. These international organizations/bodies give due importance to our communications and have been regularly issuing urgent appeals to pressure the concerned authorities and the government. AF also regularly reports cases to Human Rights Cell of Nepal Police, Office of Attorney General and National Human Rights Commission requesting investigation and necessary action against the perpetrators and timely redress to victims.

Setting the Precedents

Important judicial rulings by courts in the cases represented by AF on behalf of victims have been instrumental in establishing case law in Nepal. The efforts of AF have been immensely important in setting standards vis-à-vis the cases of human rights violations and ensuring fair trial standards in Nepal and thereby creating a solid body of jurisprudence.  AF also files Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking various directive orders for the implementation of existing legal provisions and challenging those provisions that expressly contradict with the accepted international standards.






Capacity Building Measures

AF has developed a comprehensive framework to strengthen capacities of its staffers, stakeholders, institutions, communities and target groups for the effective realization of its vision, mission and goals. The framework is set at the systemic, institutional and individual levels.  Key areas that require capacity building are identified as per the needs of relevant stakeholders or when AF feels necessary during the implementation of its various activities. AF is also committed to increasing its functionality by supplementing the expertise of staff wherever possible, both by educational workshops and by exposure to the international human rights community.

Advocacy and Lobbying

Advocacy Forum works to influence the Nepali government's policies and laws by holding regular lobby meetings with lawmakers, officials from ministries concerned, members of the civil society and other relevant stakeholders. Via various activities, campaigns and submissions, it also tries to lobby both national and international bodies to ensure human rights are upheld. It has also been continuously seeking to establish strong lines of communication and effective working partnerships with the international and domestic human rights community. AF recognizes the necessity of international co-operation in overturning the culture of impunity that sustains a climate conducive to human rights abuse in Nepal.