8 November 2024, Kathmandu: Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF) and Conflict Victim Women National Network (CVWN) organized a corner meeting on Sunday at Nepalgunj coinciding with 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence and Human Rights Day.
Participants in the programme included conflict victims and civil society organizations representatives.
Speaking at the event, CVWN’s Treasurer Chandrakala Uprety said that women and girls were more affected than others during the armed conflict and the government needs to be serious about providing them with justice and reparation.
AF’s Lumbini Province Senior Coordinator Advocate Basanta Gautam said that victims of conflict-related sexual violence have the right to justice. He emphasized effectively implementing the second national action plan (NAPII) for women, peace, and security.
Standing in solidarity with the conflict victims, Human Rights Alliance’s Central Member Prabhat Kumar Thakuri said that justice should be provided to victims without any delay.
Other participants said that transitional justice mechanisms need to be transparent, victim-centric and justice-oriented. They accentuated the need for the appointment of competent and victim-friendly commissioners at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons.
On Sunday, conflict victims and human rights defenders organized a candle-light vigil commemorating the enforced disappearance of Bhupendra Upreti during the armed conflict. Upreti was arrested by the security forces on 9 December 2003 from Dhamboji Chowk, Nepalgunj.
Since Upreti’s family members were not informed about his whereabouts for two decades, they conducted last rites after making a grass-body replica and cremating it.
Advocate Gautam said that all the conflict victims have the right to truth, justice and reparation and the fate of the victims of enforced disappearance including Bhupendra Raj Upreti needs to be made public.
