KATHMANDU, July 1: Conflict victims in Nepal have written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, strongly rejecting the current transitional justice (TJ) process and urging the UN body not to support what they describe as a flawed and politically captured mechanism.
In an urgent appeal sent to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva on June 30, the victims criticised the recent appointment of commissioners to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), saying the process lacked legitimacy, transparency, and victim participation.
The victims allege that the transitional justice process has remained dominated by political interests of major ruling parties—the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre)—who were all signatories to the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord. They argue that victims have been consistently excluded from meaningful consultation over the years and reduced to mere symbols in a process meant to uphold their rights.
Conflict victims threaten to ask UN to intervene in TJ process
“We firmly reject any TJ process that reduces victims to symbolic or instrumental roles, rather than recognising us as rights-holders whose voices, dignity, and agency must be central,” the letter states. “Transitional justice must not be a procedural formality; it must uphold truth-seeking, ensure accountability, provide effective reparations, and guarantee non-recurrence, with victims at its heart.”
The victims’ letter expresses dismay over their meeting on Monday with Rory Mungoven, OHCHR's Chief of Asia Pacific Section, who reportedly encouraged them to engage with the newly appointed commissions despite their concerns. The victims say Mungoven’s suggestion ignored well-documented evidence of the commissions’ lack of independence and victim trust, further deepening their trauma.
“The stance disregarded the core principles of victim-centred transitional justice and international human rights norms,” the letter says. “This has deepened our anguish and strengthened our resolve to demand a credible process.”
Victim groups have called on OHCHR to withdraw any endorsement of the current commissions and to support their demand for a complete reset of the process. They are also seeking the resignation of newly appointed commissioners, whom they claim were selected through an illegitimate and opaque political deal.
“Their resignation is essential to restore public confidence and prevent further harm,” the appeal stresses.
The letter, endorsed by 39 victim and survivor groups across Nepal, includes a detailed White Paper outlining the rationale behind their demands and past failures of the TJ commissions.
Meanwhile, conflict victims also met separately with senior political leaders including Agni Kharel (CPN-UML), Ramesh Lekhak (Nepali Congress), and Khim Lal Devkota (CPN-Maoist Centre), who attempted to persuade them to cooperate with the ongoing process. Although the victims reiterated their position, both sides agreed to hold another round of discussions next week in a bid to resolve the ongoing deadlock.
Nepal’s transitional justice process has remained stalled for years, with victims consistently calling for a credible, inclusive, and rights-based mechanism aligned with international standards and Supreme Court rulings. The latest developments mark a deepening rift between the victims and state institutions over the future of transitional justice in the country.
