Arya News - As many as 24 organisations call on the international community to withhold support unless concerns are addressed.
KATHMANDU – Human rights organisations working in transitional justice have said that Nepal’s transitional justice process is facing a serious legitimacy crisis due to the lack of proper consultation with civil society organisations and victims’ communities.In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, 24 organisations said that the recent appointments to the two transitional justice commissions—the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons—have generally failed to establish credibility.“How the appointments have been made cannot advance this complex and sensitive process in a just and trustworthy manner,” the statement reads. The organisations said the government has ignored, dismissed, or shown insensitivity towards the legitimate concerns raised by victims, even before the appointments. They also alleged attempts to create and exploit divisions among victims to derail the transitional justice process.
They warned that unless the process regains the victims’ trust, public confidence in the state will further erode, and debates may shift towards alternative mechanisms such as a Citizens’ Truth Commission or a hybrid model.
The statement criticised the recent notice to collect complaints, saying it lacked sensitivity towards victims of rape and sexual violence, their psychosocial condition, socioeconomic barriers, privacy, and dignity.
It also expressed concern over the state’s failure to respond sensitively after these issues were raised by victims and rights groups. They have cited ‘disrespectful’ statements by the newly appointed commission officials and the absence of efforts to restore meaningful consultation as evidence that the commissions, formed without credible appointments, lack legitimacy and cannot be effective.
“We therefore strongly urge the government to immediately take the necessary initiative to engage in dialogue, consultation, and deliberation with the victims’ communities,” the organisations said, adding that victims have consistently opposed the way appointments were made.
They also urged the international community and the United Nations not to provide any financial or technical support to the government or the transitional justice commissions unless the process is redirected from the point where trust was broken and ensures the centrality of victims’ self-esteem, participation, ownership, and satisfaction.
The statement is signed by 24 organisations including Amnesty International Nepal, Accountability Watch Committee, Advocacy Forum Nepal, INSEC, Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP), Human Rights and Justice Centre (HRJC), National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders, and others.