24 March 2022, Kathmandu: To commemorate the 12th International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF) together with the conflict victims network organized a series of discussion programs with victims and the concerned stakeholders in Morang, Kaski, Myagdi, Rupandehi, Banke, Surkhet, Dhangadi, and Janakpur. The discussion events were attended by conflict victims and representatives of Local Government, political parties, civil societies, police, and media among others. The discussion programs were moderated and coordinated by AF lawyers.
The participants in the programs collectively urged the Government to ensure victims’ right to know the truth about their loved ones, who were subjected to human rights violations during the armed conflict in Nepal. Bhim Bahadur Raut, one of the victim participants from Morang stated that the Local Government should include victims’ demands for truth and justice in their planning and programs. Similarly, Sitali Gharti and Rabi Budha Magar, from Kohalpur whose two sons were subjected to enforced disappearance during the conflict, expressed their grief of not knowing the truth and whereabouts of their sons and urged the Government to listen and take action to their concerns. The participants also stressed the need for wider and more meaningful consultations with victims for the amendment of the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act (TRC Act) as directed by the Supreme Court and in line with international human rights standards. Furthermore, the programs discussed the possible ways to tap the upcoming local elections in favor of conflict victims and streamline their agendas and demands.
The program concluded with the commitments from the representatives of political parties to address the issues of victims in their manifestos in the upcoming election. Likewise, the representatives of the Local Governments also pledged their commitment to bringing programs targeting the conflict victims. In addition, it was also demanded that the alleged perpetrators involved in committing human rights violations should be made candidates in the election and need of stringent vetting system.
The programs were generously supported by Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA).
