Kathmandu, 13 December 2020: On 12 December 2020, Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF) organized a consultation meeting on “Transitional Justice and Existing Impunity: Way Forward” at Indreni Foodland, Baneshwor, Kathmandu. The program was attended by more than 40 participants including conflict victims and civil society members. Some of the participants joined the program through virtual media-Zoom.
The discussion of the meeting was focused on assessing the current status of transitional justice, 14 years of impunity after the CPA, non-implementation of court orders, NHRC’s and UN’s recommendations, reflecting on the past approaches of victims groups and civil society, causes of diversion of approaches of victims groups and civil society, need and identification of possible approaches for the collective intervention and devise action plans for such interventions etc.
The meeting concluded on an optimistic note that:
- It is true that victims’ and civil societies have differences in work procedures, but that should not be looked upon as divisions. It is rather a multiplication of the power and contribute to the movement.
- Having more civil societies can be a favor for TJ, as when unified, it can create larger pressure on the Government.
- The only alternative to making the Government accountable is by putting intensified pressure from all levels.
- Mapping is necessary to identify the strengths of each civil society, as some may have expertise in the prosecution and some may have on reparation and so on. Thus, it is necessary to unify all these strengths into a consolidated form and march together.
- Prosecution is not an obstruction to justice, it is also an important aspect of justice.
- There are other stakeholders too who can be incorporated in this journey. It should not be believed that the findings of the meeting are the achievements. Real achievements are when a larger number of stakeholders can be brought together.
- A work plan can be devised to incorporate recommendations provided by the United Nations into Univeral Periodic Review in order to bring the issues of TJ at international level.
- As there are newly appointed officials at the Local Level Government. As a fresh start, they can be encouraged to stand for the rule of law by assisting in bringing past officials who committed the human rights violations during the conflict, into justice.
- Many victims are living abroad where there might be laws in place for their justice and protection. Various diasporas can be used, such as that of universal jurisdiction to bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Vetting can be used as the medium to stop the perpetrators from getting into the Government, being promoted or travelling abroad.
- The recent incident of killing of a school principal in Morang should not be taken lightly. Civil society should bring such issues into the forefront and pressurize the Government to take action against the perpetrators.
- The existing impunity is the result of the impunity of past crimes. Thus to put an end to the impunity, civil societies should unite and make an Action Plan together and put that Action Plan into implementation.
- There should be transparency in the activities of the civil societies, and these activities should direct towards a common goal.
The program was supported by the German Federal Office.
