12 April 2024, Lalitpur: In a concerted effort to advance transitional justice and the women’s peace and security agenda, Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF), in collaboration with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), convened a crucial joint advocacy meeting at Lalitpur, Bagmati Province.
The meeting drew the participation of various stakeholders, including conflict victims, representatives from civil society organisations, legal experts, and activists.
The meeting delved into pressing issues surrounding Nepal’s Transitional Justice (TJ) Bill, particularly focusing on its gender perspective.
Dr. Mandira Sharma, Senior International Legal Advisor at the ICJ, shed light on key insights regarding the TJ bill’s formulation process, highlighting concerns over its alignment with international standards and its potential impact on women victims. Sharma emphasised the need for a comprehensive definition, financial autonomy for commissions, and clarity on victim protection measures within the bill.
The meeting also addressed the challenges of ensuring confidentiality for women victims, with Jaya Luitel, President of The Story Kitchen, presenting critical concerns and proposing strategies to safeguard victims’ identities.
Geeta Rasaili, Vice-Chairperson of the Conflict Victims Women National Network (CVWN), highlighted the need for unity among civil society organisations and reiterated victims’ demands for meaningful participation in the transitional justice process.
Several action points emerged from the discussions, including the development of a confidentiality protocol for women victims, joint advocacy efforts, and engagement with parliamentarians to address concerns regarding the TJ bill.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative action, underscoring the importance of inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches in advancing transitional justice and ensuring meaningful participation of all stakeholders, especially victims of conflict-related violence. The stakeholders agreed to hold rotational meetings and prioritise discussions on reparation policies, media engagement, confidentiality concerns, and victim leadership among other areas in the upcoming discussions.
