‘Make transitional justice victim-friendly’

Lalitpur: The stakeholders have underlined the need for making transitional justice victim-friendly and result-oriented.

During a discussion programme on ‘state of transitional justice and away ahead’ organized by the National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, the speakers said the debate on transitional justice must not be centred in Kathmandu.

This issue must be wider, thereby making aware those suffering in the conflict. NHRC Member Surya Prasad Dhungel said NHRC was working effectively in a bid to ensure justice for the conflict victims.

‘NHRC works in favour of the victims which is a universal concept. When the State shies away from its responsibilities, NHRC prods it to be responsible and friendly to the victims,’ he reminded.

Similarly, another member of NHRC, Manoj Duwadi, who also worked as a member of the selection committee for officials at the transitional justice mechanism, informed that it was difficult to ensure qualified persons in the mechanism because of vested political interests.

‘The efforts to secure a post in transitional justice mechanism under the influence and interests of political parties and leaders created problems in the entire system,’ he said blaming the legal provision that limited space for the entry of experts working in social sectors.

Human rights activist Charan Prasain also claimed that the political sharing and influence created undue pressure that resulted in thwarting recommendations of officials in the transitional justice mechanism. Now onwards, the selection committee needs to work on its discretion rather than political interest and influence.

He demanded the inclusion of representatives of the conflict victims and urged the NHRC to monitor the recommendation process. A conflict victim Devi Sapkota said if the adjudication of justice is prolonged, it delays and denies justice to the victims.

He insisted on adherence to norms while selecting qualified persons to lead the Truth and Justice Commission. Another conflict victim representative Surendra Khatri wondered why the transitional justice was being pushed to the back burner.

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