24th October 2024
Location

London

54 Doughty Street
London
WC1N 2LS
020 7404 1313

Peace and Accountability in Nepal:
A historic opportunity for transitional justice

When? Thursday, 24 October 2024, 4:45pm BST
Where? Doughty Street Chambers (54 Doughty Street London WC1N 2LS) and Online

On Thursday 24th October, at 4.45pm at Doughty Street Chambers, Aswini Weereratne KC and Camila Zapata Besso will be presenting a report they have co-written, with others, on Nepal's transitional justice process: ‘Peace without justice and accountability? A caution against impunity in post-conflict Nepal’.

The Nepali internal armed conflict, which ended in 2006, had devastating consequences. Women, men, children and historically marginalised groups were victims of gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, torture and sexual violence. Once peace was achieved, parties to the armed conflict remained in, or were absorbed into, the state apparatus. While there has been a consistent call for justice across the political spectrum, that has not yet translated to concrete steps to ensure accountability for victims, particularly against those in power.  The transitional justice process is yet to begin. Victims are still waiting.

Nepal passed long-awaited transitional justice legislation in August 2024, which is expected to kick off the process. This is a huge step in the right direction, but we harbour real concerns, inter alia, about the terms of the legislation, which appear to secure accountability only for certain perpetrators, and entrench impunity for others.

A panel discussion will be followed by audience Q&A and then food, drinks and networking!

Panel will include:

  • Mandira Sharma: Co-Founder of Advocacy Forum Nepal and Senior Legal Advisor at the International Commission of Jurists
  • Gita Rasaili: Vice-Chairperson for Kathmandu at the Women Conflict Victims National Network (CVWN)
  • Aswini Weereratne KC: Chair of the Management Board at Doughty Street Chambers
  • Ben Leather, Director, Peace Brigades International (PBI) UK
  • Camila Zapata Besso: Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers
  • Haydee Dijkstal: Barrister at 33 Bedford Row and Executive Member of the Bar Human Rights Committee for England and Wales

Register your place here.