1. The official peace process has completed
its seven years, but still lags behind in its
commitment to establish sustainable peace
in the country. It should be acknowledged
that the political parties and the Government
had endorsed it and showed its commitments
by establishing Peace and Reconstruction
Ministry, Peace Trust Fund. Similarly, the
peace process had endorsed United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1325 and
developed the National Plan of Action which
was a positive step as it incorporated the
gender dimensions and women’s rights aspect.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement with its
commitment aimed to establish a just society
through complete transformation of nation’s
social, economic, political and cultural
aspects brought enthusiasm and eagerness
to the Nepali people. Yet, the commitment of
political parties remains only on papers.
The situation has not changed despite the
Government’s National Action Plan on 1325
which was highly applauded by International
community. The NAP on 1325 still has a
long way to go before it gets applauded by all
the women of Nepal in general and directly
affected women in particular. Likewise, the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission and
Commission on Disappearance which were /
are part of transitional justice mechanisms and
commitment in CPA are still being debated.
Although, the Truth and Reconciliation
ordinance was passed its provisions clearly
shows that even if the commission gets
established, it will be difficult for the conflict
affected survivors to get justice. The provisions
propagate Impunity.
Duetothelackofpoliticalwillandinefficiency
of the political leaders the peace process has
been protracted and this has been taken as
an excuse to deny justice to those affected
by conflict. This applies to those affected in
the transitional period as well. As a result
at present country is going through pain of
Impunity.
Present situation:
Still after seven years of official beginning of
the peace process there are thousands of family
members waiting to know the whereabouts
of their loved ones and thousands others
who are still waiting for justice. Women
who suffered from direct violence and
discrimination before, during and
after conflict still have a long
way to go to get heard and
become visible.
Transitional Justice from
Women’s Perspectives
National Consultation 21st
September 2013
Concept
Paper
We heartily welcome everyone for the participation
in the National Consultation that intends to draft a
module addressing transitional justice issues from
women’s perspective.

2. Although some efforts have been made for
justice,thereisstillaneedforpropermonitoring
and analysis to ensure proper justice and
remedies for women. The perpetrators of war
crimes and violence are institutionalized as
today’s leaders, body guards and supporters;
jeopardizing the access to justice for the direct
and indirect victims of conflict and violence.
Insteadofhealingscars,woundshavedeepened
bypresentmodalityofjustice.Additionally,the
protracted transitional period and slackened
peace process perpetuated by weak and
unstable government is leading the country
towards organized crimes and increases VAW
and children. Within three month (Baisakh,
Jyestha and Ashadh, 2070), WOREC Nepal
documented 613 cases of violence on women1
.
Out of total, 279 cases were reported as
domestic violence (battered by husband and
in-laws, mental torture, abandoned from
home, verbal abuse and physical violence), 63
cases were reported as social violence (alleged
as witch, child marriage and verbal abuses),
149 cases were reported as rape (from intimate
partner, neighbors, teachers and others), 14
cases were reported as attempt to rape, 40 cases
were reported as killings, 10 cases reported as
attempt to murder, 35cases were reported as
sexual harassment, 9 cases reported as human
trafficking and 14 cases were reported as other
kinds (stranded, suicide and fraud) of violence.
In almost all cases justice is impossible to
achieve.
As the concept of justice is embedded
within discriminatory laws and structures,
and remains within the periphery of these
structures, women fail to get justice even after
thelegalremedy.Thereareanumberofcasesin
which the perpetrator gets punished legally but
women do not feel they received real justice.
Absence of victim protection mechanism and
victimcentricjusticesystemcompoundedwith
patriarchal values and understanding within
every system of governance makes women’s
life difficult. This situation requires national
level discussion with the affected people and
requires urgent attention to further discuss
what justice really means for women survivors
and how this can be achieved? Without this
the peace process can never get transformed
in sustainable peace.
The activities and works done in the past:
To address the situation, every year WOREC
Nepal draws attention to the issue related to
women during violent political conflict on
September 21st
, International peace day, with
an objective to advocate for justice. WOREC
Nepal considers this as a base for sustainable
peace in the country. The highlights of
WOREC’s issues of advocacy delivered
through events conducted in past four years
(2009-12) are:
 In 2009, WOREC, NAWHRD, AYON,
COCAP, Rastriya Mahila Uthan Sangh
jointly organized an interaction program
on International Peace Day - This year
it reviewed the peace process and listed
challenges related to this. Similarly, it listed
out the shortcomings of the peace process
and discussed them with leaders of all
political parties. Leaders of the political
parties made commitment to take note
of that and to improve on it.
 In, 2010, an interaction program
entitled “Peace building
Process: Past, Present
and Future” in
presence of
“Transitional Justice from Women’s Perspective”
1 WOREC Nepal, 2013, August
http://www.worecnepal.org/monthly-report
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3. Vice Speaker of Constitutional Assembly,
representatives of Civil Society and
different Human Right Organizations was
organized. Women affected by the conflict,
survivors of violence in transitional period
asked the questions, raised their voices
and demanded accountability to ensure
their rights from the government, political
parties and other stakeholders. The
discussion was focused on United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1325 and
obligation of the state. Leaders of political
parties and government authorities
committed to comply with the provisions
of 1325 expedite the peace process and
ensure women's participation in all steps.
Commitment to ensure justice for women
was very loud and clear.
 In 2011, WOREC Nepal organized a
National Level Public Hearing entitled
“Where is my dignity?” in presence of
leaders of major political parties, media
and representatives of civil society. Several
women directly affected by conflict shared
their stories and demanded accountability
from the top brass of the political parties.
Chairperson of CPN-Maoist Mr. Puspa
kamal Dahal, Chairperson of CPN-UML,
Mr. Jhal Nath Khanal, Madheshi Morcha
Mr. Upendra Yadav among others were
the guest of honor. They committed to
look at the issues and full fill the demands
of women within two months, but still
nothing has happened,. After the public
hearing 18 point demands to be addressed
by the government with immediate
plans and commitments was drafted and
submitted to the leaders and government
authorities.
 On 20th
September 2012, WOREC
Nepal along with other human right
organizations collaboratively organized
Peace Fair (Photo Exhibition, IEC fair,
Art Competition, Cultural Programs,
Documentary Screening and Book
Launching) in the form of Peace Exhibition
was organized at Khulla Manch with an
objective to publicized commitments of
political parties and implementation status
of those commitments.
 On 21st
September 2012, WOREC Nepal,
NAWHRD and APWLD jointly organized
a National Consultation on “Women’s
Right in Nepal: Rhetoric and Reality,
Challenges to Human Right, Peace,
Democracy and Development” with a
slogan “ Standing Together for Peace” in
presence of Ms. Kamala Chandrakirana,
working group member of women in
discrimination against women in law .
The day was followed by the “Solidarity
Mission” (22nd
September) in which Ms.
Heisoo Shin, UN socio economic right
committee member, APWLD members
from Asia pacific region jointly with
WOREC Nepal and MahilaEkataSamaj
visited forcibly evicted slums of Bagmati
River. A joint statement was issued and
presentedon23rdofSeptemberthroughan
“Interaction program with stakeholders
on “Interaction with Media & Dialogue
with stakeholders on the due processes and
standards of Eviction and Right to safe
housing”. During this, the issues related to
socio-economic challenges and securities
of Women Human Right Defenders
were highlighted nationally and
internationally. Inallabovelisted
activities, political parties
committed themselves
to peace process
and justice
“What is justice for women in today’s context?”
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4. for women . Likewise, the Government
authorities committed to implement and
ensure justice but still those commitments
and have not been implemented and
women are still waiting to enjoy their
rights and access justice.
2013 Action:
Ascontinuumandreminder,thisyearWOREC
Nepal is organizing National Consultation
on “Transitional Justice from Women’s
Perspectives “on 21st
September 2013, to
advocate for Women Friendly transitional
justice mechanism. This consultation will be
conducted to highlight the issues on “what is
justice for women in today’s context?”
Program Objectives:
 To define Justice from women's perspective
and draft a module addressing transitional
justice issues from women’s perspectives.
Program Methodology:
 Program will be conducted in joint
collaboration of NAWHRD and WOREC
Nepal.
 Short video screening on “What is Justice
for Women?”
 “What is justice for women? What needs to
be done for women to make feel the justice?
What kind of environment is needed? How
the justice for the victims of violence again
women including conflict period can be
ensured? A survey conducted through
this questionnaire with women all over
the country will be shared and discussed
through a position paper developed.
 Five women representative will be sharing
their problems focusing on what justice
really mean for them?
 The National Consultation will be
conducted in the form of presentation,
interactions and interactive dialogues and
the issues and recommendation collected
from mass discussions will be presented in
presence of concerned stakeholders.
Participants:
 Women affected by conflict, women
human rights defenders and survivors of
violence.
 Representatives of Ministry of Women
Children and Social Welfare.
 National Human Right Commission and
National Women Commission.
 Representative from peace and
reconstruction Ministry
 UN agencies
 Bilateral agencies contributors to peace
trust fund.
 EU working group on Human right
defenders
 Politicalrepresentativesandrepresentatives
of CSOs.
 Media and concerned stakeholders.
Expected Outcome:
A draft on module addressing
transitional justice issues from
women’s perspectives
developed.
National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders
Tel: 977-01-5529841
Email: secretariat@nawhrd.org
Web: www.nawhrd.org
WOREC Nepal
Tel: 977-01-5006373, 01-2123124
Email: peace.center@worecnepal.org
Web: www.worecnepal.org
Organizers:
Registration Fee
Organization: Nrs. 1000/- | Individual: Nrs. 500/- | Students: Nrs. 300/-
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