Nepal insurgency victims urge UN rapporteur to withhold backing for justice commissions

Victims of Nepal's decade-long insurgency are voicing grave concerns as a UN Special Rapporteur prepares to visit the country. These victims, who have endured immense suffering, are urging the international community, specifically the UN, not to legitimize the current transitional justice commissions. Their plea stems from a profound lack of faith in the leadership of these bodies, which they claim were appointed through a flawed, politically influenced process. For years, these victims have been advocating for genuine justice and accountability, only to see their hopes repeatedly dashed by a system they perceive as entrenched in impunity and politicization.

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We urge you to call on the UN and the OHCHR to withhold endorsement and financial support for the commissions until they are formed through a credible, consultative process and legal provisions that fall short of international standards are revised.

The current commissions, established to address the atrocities of the 1996-2006 Maoist insurgency, have failed to yield any meaningful progress. Despite multiple attempts to form such bodies over the past 11 years, not a single case has been resolved. This stark reality fuels the victims' skepticism and their fear that any endorsement from the United Nations, even with the best intentions, could inadvertently undermine their long-standing struggle. They fear that validation from a global body like the UN would lend a false sense of legitimacy to commissions that, in their view, fall short of international standards and lack the credibility needed to heal a nation scarred by conflict.

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The visit will allow the Special Rapporteur to acquire a broad view of the good practices, gaps and shortcomings of the various initiatives taken since and formulate recommendations in that regard.

The impending visit of UN Special Rapporteur Bernard Duhaime offers a critical opportunity for the international community to listen directly to the voices of those most affected. However, the victims' letter underscores the urgency of ensuring that this visit leads to tangible change, rather than simply another round of diplomatic engagement without substantive outcomes. Their demand is clear: withhold support until the commissions are reformed through a transparent, consultative process and legal frameworks are aligned with international human rights standards. This is not merely a procedural request; it is a desperate plea for justice and a chance for Nepal to finally confront its past and build a more equitable future.

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Over the past 11 years, three sets of commissions have been formed, yet not a single case has been resolved.