During Nepal’s civil conflict between 1996 and 2006, more than 13,000 people were killed and thousands were forcibly disappeared.
Both the Maoist insurgents and government forces committed human rights and humanitarian law violations including extrajudicial execution, torture, displacement, arbitrary arrests and detention. None of those responsible have yet been held to account.
PBI opened its Nepal Project in 2006. Despite the signing of peace accords in the same year, and democratic elections in 2008, Nepal is still experiencing political violence, instability, poverty, inequality and economic and energy crises.
Human right defenders continue to receive threats and intimidation as they work for social justice and assist victims of human rights violations. PBI’s presence protects them while they work to develop solutions to the challenges their country is facing.
The project has 14 volunteers based in offices in Kathmandu and Bardiya District, in midwest Nepal. Among the human rights defenders they accompany are defenders combating impunity and promoting the rule of law, women human rights defenders who are contributing to peace-building efforts and working for gender equality, and grassroots groups struggling for economic, social and cultural rights.
Advocacy Forum (AF), a legal organisation working on key cases of conflict-related human rights abuses, which they are filing on behalf of victims’ families. Their work throughout the country relates to torture, disappearances and extra-judicial killings, and includes the investigation, filing and prosecution of cases.
Conflict Victims’ Committee (CVC), has over 200 members, victims of abuses from both sides of the conflict, who together challenge impunity and fight for justice. CVC is based in Bardiya, one of Nepal's most conflict-affected regions, with the highest number of cases of forced disappearance in the country.
Conflict Victims Society for Justice (CVSJ
Devi Sunuwar, the mother of Maina Sunuwar, whose case of disappearance and death by torture at the hands of the Nepal Army in February 2004 is one of the most emblematic cases of impunity in Nepal. To date none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice.
Madhesi Human Rights Home (Mahuri Home), a Kapilvastu-based NGO working for the protection of the human rights of the Madhesi, Dalit and Muslim communities, particularly in situations of illegal detention, extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Ram Kumar Bhandari,journalist and human rights activist. Ram, whose own father was forcibly disappeared in 2001, is the chair of the National Network of Families of Disappeared and Missing (NEFAD).
Madhesi Human Rights Home (Mahuri Home), a Kapilvastu-based NGO working for the protection of the human rights of the Madhesi, Dalit and Muslim communities, particularly in situations of illegal detention, extrajudicial killings and disappearances.
Lawyers' Forum for Human Rights (LAFHUR), a lawyer’s network run by volunteers. It provides legal aid to victims of human rights violations - particularly those from marginalised backgrounds who would not otherwise have access to justice.
Women human rights defenders and defending women's rights
Dalit Feminist Uplift Organisation (DAFUO), established by Dalit women in 1997 as an independent Nepali NGO in Gulariya, Bardiya district. DAFUO works on human rights of marginalised communities, particularly focusing on women rights.
Fatima Foundation, which works for social justice and the protection of Muslim and Madeshi women's and children’s human rights. It conducts awareness programs on domestic violence and violence relating to dowry issues and advocates for Muslim and Madeshi women's rights within the Muslim community, and provides education and training to women to empower them and increase their financial independence.
Manika Jha, journalist writing on corruption, women’s rights and discrimination.
Watch a video (made in 2010) about the people PBI accompanies in Nepal:
