Nepal’s transitional justice mechanisms must undergo serious reforms in line with international human rights standards and the directives of Nepal’s Supreme Court in order to provide justice for victims of conflict-era human rights violations and abuses, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has said.

In a discussion paper “Nepal’s Transitional Justice Process: Challenges and Future Strategy” released on Tuesday, the ICJ has summarised the key challenges facing Nepal’s transitional justice process as identified by conflict victims, representatives of human rights organisations, lawyers and other stakeholders during consultations held in Pokhara, Biratnagar and Nepalgunj and a national round-table meeting in Kathmandu in May and June.

The paper has concluded with the identification of the strategies for civil society organisations and victims’ representatives to address those challenges.

“The voices heard in our consultations provide a stark reminder that more than 10 years after the end of the conflict and over two years since the Commissions of Inquiry were established, victims of serious human rights violations and abuses are still searching for justice,” said Frederick Rawski, ICJ’s director for Asia and the Pacific.