Team Members

Merina Karki

Litigation Officer

Pushpa Raj Poudel

Senior Litigation Officer

Sita Saran Mandal

Member

Ram Sharma

Member

Bishnukala Bhandari

Treasurer

Shikha Jha

Program Officer

Shikha Jha is a Program Associate at Advocacy Forum Nepal, working in the Transitional Justice and Research Department of the organization. She is a law graduate from Kathmandu School of Law holding Gold Medal Honors from the Purbanchal University for academic excellence.

Her professional engagement centers on victim-oriented transitional justice processes, research, and policy-level advocacy, alongside a keen interest in litigation related to human rights violations. She is a humanitarian law enthusiast and an environmentalist at heart. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys travelling and picking brain of people around her on contemporary socio-political matters.

Sammar Bahadur Basnet

Legal Officer

Pashupati Thapa

Office Assistant

Bikash Basnet

Executive Director

Bikash Basnet is a Director at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. Mr. Basnet leads the transitional justice and documentation theme of AF and ensures all the program activities under this theme are implemented with high- results. Prior to joining AF, Mr. Basnet used to engage in teaching-learning activities in different universities of Nepal.

Basnet is a Spokesperson of AF and a member of the Accountability Watch Committee (a loose forum of human rights activists, media persons and victims advocating against impunity and injustices). His roles include providing regular updates on human rights, transitional justice and rule of law to the national and international community. Basnet leads the Sub-Group on Transitional Justice and Impunity under EU Working Group on Human Rights in which AF is a focal point.

Basnet has completed his Masters Degree in Humanities and Social Science and Bachelor in Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University of Nepal. He is a lawyer by profession.

Anupa Aryal

Program Coordinator

Anupa Aryal is a Human Rights Officer at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Law from South Asian University in New Delhi, India. She is a recipient of the prestigious SAARC Silver Jubilee Scholarship. Working in the organization since February 2022, Anupa specializes in the Transitional Justice process, and Women, Peace, and Security agenda. She is also responsible for conducting comprehensive research, writing, and contributing to the publications on behalf of the organization. Additionally, her engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries is crucial in advancing the organization’s mission and objectives.

Balkrishna Ghimire

Senior Admin Officer

Balkrishna Ghimire is an Administrative Officer at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. He holds a Bachelor in Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University and has been in the civil society sector for more than 22 years. Working in the organization since 2004, Ghimire is responsible for administrative management, litigation and legal aid. His interests and expertise are centred on administrative duties and facilitating human rights victims’ access to justice.

Bir Bahadur Bista

Senior Coordinator & Human Rights Officer (Sudurpaschim Province)

Bir Bahadur Bist is AF’s Sudurpaschim Province Senior Coordinator and Human Rights Officer. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University and has gained more than 18 years of experience in the legal and civil society sectors. Working in the organization since April 2005, he is responsible for litigating, documenting cases of human rights violations, implementing project programmes, coordinating with criminal justice stakeholders, conducting detention visit, providing legal aid to the needy, and preparing reports. His expertise lies in litigation, legal aid and coordination with multiple stakeholders.

Dinesh Pokharel

Finance Manager

Dinesh Pokharel is a Finance Coordinator at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. He plays a pivotal role in ensuring financial sustainability of the organization and is responsible for the management of funds. With a Master’s degree in Business and Finance from Tribhuvan University, Pokharel has more than 15 years of experience in financial management, budgeting, and accounting. Involved in AF from …., Pokharel’s duties include fiscal responsibility, donor reporting, compliance, and transparency. He works closely with programme managers, grant writers, and other stakeholders to align financial strategies with the organization’s overarching goals.

Basanta Gautam

Senior Province Coordinator (Lumbini Province)

Basanta Gautam is AF’s Senior Province Coordinator at Lumbini Province. He holds Master’s degree in Political Science and Sociology as well as Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University and has been working in the legal and human rights sector since 2001. Affiliated with AF since 2003, Gautam documents cases of human rights violations, provides legal aid and counselling to the victims, helps victim file FIRs and lawsuits, litigates and pleads in the court, and files Public Interest Litigations. He is also a prolific writer and communicator and conducts a weekly radio show “Radio Ijlas” broadcasted from Radio Krishnasar FM. Gautam’s interest lies in legal research, litigation, case documentation and coordination with various stakeholders to uphold rule of law.

Indira Acharya

Province Coordinator (Lumbini)

Indira Acharya is the Lumbini Province Coordinator at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. She holds an MA in sociology and an LL.B. from Tribhuvan University and has actively worked in human rights sector for the last 15 years. She has been an integral part of the organization since 2019, and her responsibilities include visiting jails, child correction homes, and prisons, where she provides legal aid and consultations. Beyond this, she also follows up on old human rights violation cases and documents new ones. Her goal is to ensure that everyone has access to justice, and she persistently advocates for policy changes.

Kumar Prasad Thapaliya

Program Coordinator

Kumar Prasad Thapaliya serves as a Program Officer/Human Rights Lawyer at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. He holds a Master’s in Sociology and an LLB from Tribhuvan University. With over 25 years of experience in the development sector, he excels in project formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, stakeholder mobilization, human rights, livelihood, database management, training facilitation, proposal writing, and drafting court documents. Working in the organization since March 2020, he has played a pivotal role in documenting human rights violations, legal document drafting and pleading, database management, and lobbying for the reform of criminal and juvenile justice systems. Thapaliya’s passion and expertise centre on litigation and project implementation.

Prabesh Sharma

Finance Officer

Prabesh Sharma is a Finance Officer at Advocacy Forum Nepal. He has gained over five years of experience in finance and auditing. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Indira Gandhi National Open University. Involved in the organization since August 2023, Sharma’s responsibilities include financial reporting, budgeting, accounting and bookkeeping. His interest lies in internal financial control, audit and compliance.

Pusp Bikram Shahi

Province Coordinator (Sudurpaschim Province)

Pusp Bikram Shahi is AF’s Sudurpaschim Province Coordinator at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. Based at Dhangadhi, Kailali, Shahi holds an MA in Sociology, M.Ed. in Planning and Management and Bachelor in Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University. He has gained more than 21 years of experience in law, education, civil society and training sectors. Working in the organization since March 2022, he is responsible for programme implementation, cases documentation, transitional justice, human rights violations, detention visit, legal aid and preparing reports at the provincial level. Communication with province level government organizations, international non-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, conflict victims and different stakeholders are his other responsibilities. His interest and expertise lie in advocacy for the reform of the legal sectors, spreading of legal awareness, and training of victims at the community level.

Rajendra Bharati

Province Coordinator (Karnali Province)

Rajendra Bharati is AF’s Karnali Province Coordinator. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Tribhuvan University and has been in the legal profession and development sector for the last 20 years. Working in AF since July 2023, Bharati is responsible for detention visit, legal aid to detainees and victims of human rights violations, coordinating with criminal justice stakeholders, and litigating and pleading cases in the court. His expertise lies in litigation, legal aid, and coordination with multiple stakeholders.

Rukmina Dahal

Province Coordinator (Koshi Province)

Rukmina Dahal is AF’s Koshi Province Coordinator at Advocacy Forum-Nepal. She holds an LLM in Criminal Law and Justice from Purbanchal University and MA in Sociology from Tribhuvan University. She has gained more than 12 years of experience as a practicing lawyer and legal educator. Working in the organization since 2004, she is responsible for documenting cases of human rights violations, providing legal aid, lobbying and advocacy for child rights and juvenile justice. Coordination meetings with different stakeholders are her other responsibilities. Her interest and expertise lie in providing legal aid for the needy people, litigating, and advocating for the strengthening of the rule of law and human rights.

Shailu Sharma

Program Officer

Shailu Sharma is a Program Officer with the Advocacy Forum-Nepal since 2018. She works in Juvenile Justice and Prevention of Torture department and takes a keen interest on Litigation, Research and Publication. Sharma completed her Masters in Law (LLM) from Washburn University School of Law, United States. Her interest areas include litigation, research, and publication and she is actively involved in advancing legal advocacy and human rights, with a desire to contribute to positive changes within the legal system.

Kunjani Pariyar Pyasi

Province Coordinator (Gandaki Province)

Kunjani Pariyar Pyasi is a Province Coordinator at Advocacy Forum-Nepal Gandaki Province. She holds a B.A.LL.B. and Master’s in Political Science from Prithivi Narayan Campus Pokhara, Tribhuvan University. Her advocacy journey began at age 12 when she started to understand and advocate for child rights through child clubs. Working in the organization since August 2019, she is responsible for documenting cases of human rights violations, conducting detention visit for assessing cases of torture, and providing legal aid if necessary, developing intervention strategies for addressing human rights violations and other administrative tasks for the organization at the province level. Her interest and expertise is in advocating for child rights, good governance, social inclusion, youth engagement, and policy-making.

Hritik Shrestha

Documentation & Communication Officer

With over 6 years of experience in Journalism, Marketing, and Communications, Hritik is a highly motivated and creative professional. He excels in storytelling, crafting compelling narratives, and has expertise in social media, content creation, and video production. Committed to using communication to promote positive social change and foster understanding, Hritik holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA.

Bikash Basnet

Dinesh Pokharel

Kumar Prasad Thapaliya

Anupa Aryal

Balkrishna Ghimire

Pushpa Raj Poudel

Bir Bahadur Bista

Basanta Gautam

Indira Acharya

Pusp Bikram Shahi

Rajendra Bharati

Kunjani Pariyar Pyasi

Rukmina Dahal

Sammar Bahadur Basnet

Prabesh Sharma

Shailu Sharma

Hritik Shrestha

Shikha Jha

Merina Karki

Hardik Pandey

Pashupati Thapa

What We Do

Publications

Media