On 12 April 2019, five UN bodies sent a communication to the Government of Nepal, urging for a transitional justice process in line with international standards. This important communication is now available in Nepali.
The UN bodies expressed concerns about the lack of impartiality and transparency of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), as well as the fact that the commissions, created in 2015, have showed no progress in their work, despite receiving 63’000 cases to date.
They also mentioned worrisome legal aspects, such as a possible amendment to the TRC Act (2014) and some provisions of the current law, that would still allow amnesties for gross human rights violations. In this sense, further extension of the commissions’ mandates, without substantial amendments to the TRC Act, would not be sufficient.
Hence, the UN Rapporteurs called on the Government to amend the Act, to bring it in line with international standards, and to implement a process of consultation with victims, civil society and the National human rights commission.