Impunity in Nepal: A persistent crisis of justice

A culture of impunity—where perpetrators of grave crimes evade accountability—has seeped into Nepal’s political, judicial, and social fabric, leaving victims

How the US immigration system is failing Bhutanese refugees

It is exhausting to hear some of my fellow countrymen echo political rhetoric with blanket statements like, “I don’t support

Monarchy or republic? Without budget credibility, neither will make lives better

Last few weeks, the media and the streets have been resonant with pro-monarchy voices. In response, some republican forces have

Persecuting Dalits in the name of religion

On March 20, 2081, houses of Dalit community were demolished in Aurahi Municipality-5, Siraha district of Madhesh Province of Nepal.

Nepal’s post-earthquake recovery: What the UN can do

I still remember the chaos of April 25, 2015. The ground beneath me trembled violently, buildings cracked like fragile shells,

Western powers, including the US and EU, show rare solidarity for Nepal’s transitional justice process

‘Now is the time for all stakeholders to band together in support of bringing this segment of Nepal’s history to a successful conclusion.’

Kathmandu: In a rare show of solidarity for the resolution of Nepal’s long-pending transitional justice process, major Western powers have lent their wholehearted support to the Commission of Investigation on the Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act (third amendment) Bill, 2024 which was passed by the House of Representatives and National Assembly of federal parliament and that was authenticated by president Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday.   With president’s stamp of approval, the bill has become a law and will come into effect immediately.

The joint statement issued by 10 countries says they “look forward to hearing from the Government of Nepal about specific needs to support effective delivery by the Truth & Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons.”

The joint statement comes in the wake of dissent from some victim communities, as well as the international human rights fraternity, that the law is still not victim-centric and that corrections are needed on several fronts.

[Related: International human rights fraternity call Nepal’s TRC law a ‘flawed step forward’]