24 February 2025, Kathmandu: Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF) organized an interaction programme on the “Reparative Rights of Conflict Victims: Policies, Programmes, and Implementation Status of the Karnali Province Government” in Surkhet Monday.
Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel (also serving as the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of Karnali Province) graced the programme as the chief guest. Participants included conflict victims from various districts of Karnali Province, Chief Attorney Krishna Bahadur Hamal, representatives from the Karnali Province Assembly, Government, Bar Associations, civil society organizations (CSOs), human rights lawyers, and journalists.
Puspa Raj Joshi (Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Karnali Province) presented the Karnali Province’s reparative policies and their implementation status, while Gita Rasaili, Vice Chair of the Conflict Victims Women National Network, highlighted major reparative concerns and the role of the Karnali Province Government in addressing them.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Kandel emphasized that perpetrators of gross human rights violations must not be shielded and emphasized the need to conclude the peace process in a manner that guarantees non-repetition of conflict.
The programme was chaired by Basanta Gautam (Senior Lumbini Province Coordinator, AF) and facilitated by Rajendra Bharati (Karnali Province Coordinator, AF).
On the same day, a closed-door meeting was held with key stakeholders, including Ashok Nath Yogi (Member, Karnali Province Planning Commission), Chief Attorney Krishna Bahadur Hamal, Kalyani Khadka (Karnali Province Assembly Member), Secretary of the Ministry of Law Pushpa Raj Joshi, Gita Rasaili, representatives from CSOs/ journalist, among others. The meeting, facilitated by Basanta Gautam and Amisha Adhikari (Programme Coordinator, AF), focused on strengthening the province government’s approach to ensuring reparative rights for conflict victims.
