UN welcomes adoption of new transitional justice legislation in Nepal

KATHMANDU: The United Nations has welcomed the adoption of the new transitional justice law in Nepal.

The UN has stated that the adoption of new transitional justice legislation in Nepal marks an important step in the nation’s long journey towards accountability and reconciliation.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Thursday that the amendment bill, entitled the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission Act, aims to ensure truth and accountability for serious human rights violations committed by all parties during Nepal’s civil war.

Türk affirmed that his Office was ready to assist Nepal in taking this crucial phase of the peace process forward.

“Eighteen years since the end of the decade-long conflict, and after several previous attempts to finalize such legislation, victims of human rights violations are now closer to knowing the truth, accessing justice, and obtaining reparations,” Türk said, issuing a statement in Geneva, Switzerland.

Likewise, Türk commended Nepal to have become “a regional and global example of a successful peaceful transition towards democratic, constitutional, and federal governance”.

“Transitional justice is a powerful instrument to break cycles of violence and impunity, and a unique opportunity to revisit some of the rooted inequalities and discrimination that led to the conflict,” the UN rights chief mentioned.

The House of Representatives (HoR) and National Assembly (NA) have endorsed the Bill related to transitional justice.

The HoR meeting passed the Bill related to Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment), 2081 on August 14 while the NA meeting passed it on Thursday.

Originated in the HoR, the bill will be sent to the President for authentication after HoR Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s certification. The bill will take the form of an Act to come into force after the President’s authentication.