2 July 2012. In a series of consultations hosted in 16 working districts of Advocacy Forum (AF) throughout June, victims of human rights violations (HRVs) expressed their concern over state’s indifference to ensuring them justice and addressing the endemic impunity ailing the country. The consultation entitled “Human Rights and Impunity: How to Ensure Victims’ Access to Justice?” comprised the stakeholders of criminal justice system, victims of HRVs and the representatives of different state agencies, including the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC).
Victims participating in each consultation were of the unanimous opinion regarding the inadequacy of the existing criminal justice system in providing them justice and addressing extreme legal, social and economic hardships faced by the victims of grave human rights violations, including sexual violence. “Lack of political will among key actors has been deterring justice delivery due to which the culture of impunity has become more institutionalized than before” the participants held the opinion in the programs. The lackluster police investigation and lack of victim and witness protection mechanisms are other hurdles to access the justice.
The consultations laid down some key understandings among the victims. They agreed to work from their respective sides to advocate and lobby for the enactment of pro-victim law fully in compliance with the international standards so as to strengthen the rule of law, provide justice to victims and protect and promote the human rights standards.
AF has been regularly organizing such consultations where victims and the stakeholders of the Nepalese justice system convene in a single forum of discussion.
