9 December 2024, 18:00-19:00
Event
Wikimedia/Nirmal Dulal
Nepal endured a decade-long armed conflict (1996–2006) between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists. During this period, widespread human rights violations — including sexual violence, torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances — were committed by all parties involved.
In response, the Nepalese Parliament enacted the Enforced Disappearance Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act in 2014 (TRC Act), establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission on Investigation of Disappeared Persons (CIEDP). However, these bodies have faced criticism for ineffectiveness, lack of independence, and prolonged delays. Despite over 63,000 registered complaints, no prosecutions or criminal investigations have yet taken place. In August 2024, Nepal passed a long-awaited bill on TRC Act. The bill, welcomed by international community in Nepal, includes of several positive provisions on reparation. However, it still has a few elements undermining accountability for serious human rights violations and does not address all concerns raised by the UN experts on Nepal.
This online event invites Salina Kafle, a human rights advocate supporting victims in their ongoing fight for justice, to discuss the complexities of accountability in Nepal. Why have been transitional justice mechanisms created by the state so inefficient? What are the main challenges human rights defenders face when engaging with these mechanisms and supporting victims in their fight for justice? What are the strategies used to face these challenges? Do international human rights mechanisms help in this context? What new changes might the amended law bring to Nepal’s transitional justice in the future?
Salina Kafle is a human rights lawyer based in Nepal. She is the Executive Director at Human Rights and Justice Centre (HRJC), a non-profit organization that fights against torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and conflict related sexual violence in Nepal.
During her work, she has closely observed Nepalese transitional justice process, designed legal strategies and advocated the related issues at the national and international level. She has also worked as a consultant for various national and regional NGOs. She has written extensively in national Journals on the issues of gross human rights violations.
Adobe
Our new series of Research Briefs examine the impact of digital disinformation and potential solutions for its regulation
Geneva Academy
The GHRP’s annual training equipped 19 diplomats with key insights into the UN Human Rights Council’s mechanisms and multilateral processes.
Adobe
This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.
ICRC
Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
A series of events aimed at discussing contemporary issues and challenges related to the promotion and protection of human rights in Geneva and beyond.
Adobe
To unpack the challenges raised by artificial intelligence, this project will target two emerging and under-researched areas: digital military technologies and neurotechnology.
Geneva Academy
Geneva Academy