The trend of families of victims bringing their cases before the police and demanding criminal investigation is on a steady rise. Since the publication of “Waiting for Justice: Unpunished Crimes from Nepal’s Armed Conflict” (2008), which examined 49 complaints that families filed with police concerning allegations of gross human rights violations, AF has helped victim families file thirty two new FIRs, formal complaints, in 51 individual cases.
The rationale of AF being actively involved in supporting and helping victims file these cases is to bring these issues in the forefront in order to keep the victim’s hopes to justice alive, sensitize the victims to be vociferous for justice using the existing judicial mechanisms.
Moreover, this also helps to identify, expose and fill the lacunas in the existing laws which will contribute to the reform of justice system. As none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice, this exercise has significantly assisted in AF’s campaign for the establishment of a comprehensive transitional justice mechanism in Nepal.
