Amnesty International Nepal held its 30th General Meeting (GM) in Dhulikhel City of Kavre on 1 and 2 April 2022. The general meeting passed its annual reports, work plans, budgets, and some policy documents. It also elected a new leadership in its National Board and Appeals Committee for a term of two years.
Over 300 participants including 254 voting delegates from Amnesty Nepal’s groups, youth networks and the constituency of supporter members across the country and its Board and Appeal Committee officials, staff, volunteers, observers, and delegates from the international secretariat attended this general meeting.
Day I – Inaugural Event and Closed Door Session — 1 April 2022
The two-day GM was jointly inaugurated by Chief Guest Balram KC, former Justice of Supreme Court, and the immediate past Chair Bikram Dhukuchhu.
Speaking at the inaugural event, Chief Guest Balram KC expressed his concerns over the lack of government’s accountability in ensuring justice to the victims of rape incidents, which have remained unabated in the country.
Suman Adhikari, founder Chair of Conflict Victims Common Platform, urged Amnesty Nepal members to work proactively in holding the government accountable in the cases of human rights violations during the conflict and ending the state of impunity.
A video message of Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, Chair of the International Board of Amnesty International, was played during the inaugural event.
She expressed her commitment in providing necessary support of the International Board and the International Secretariat to further strengthen Amnesty’s human rights movement in Nepal.
Speaking at the event, former Chair Charan Prasai wished for the success of the General Meeting. 
Former Chair Rajan Prasaid Kuikel expressed satisfaction to have seen a largely representative gathering at the hall of the general meeting.
Speaking at the event, former Chair Charan Prasai wished for the success of the General Meeting. Former Chair Rajan Prasaid Kuikel expressed satisfaction to have seen a largely representative gathering at the hall of the general meeting and enthused the young members to take the leadership role and move the Amnesty movement in Nepal to a different level, and that former Chairs would be standing beside them. Former Chairs Raju Sarkar, Pradip Pokhrel, Dhruba Kumar Karki, Hem Kumar Khadka and Surya Bahadur Adhikari were also present in the General Meeting as observers.
A closed-door session that followed the inaugural event discussed the impacts of human rights actions in the previous year and endorsed the organization’s financial report, annual work plan and the budget for the year 2022.
Amnesty Nepal Director Nirajan Thapaliya presented the annual report covering different human rights activities carried out during the last fiscal year which was approved unanimously by the delegates.
Acting General Secretary Bipin Budhathoki presented the National Board’s Report of the fiscal year 2077/78. The report included briefing and documentation of the governance related actions and decisions including the reforms initiatives undertaken jointly with the international secretariat through an MoU during the last fiscal year. The report was endorsed unanimously by the delegates.
Likewise, treasurer Suresh Prasad Upadhyaya presented Amnesty Nepal’s financial report of the fiscal year 077/078 (16 July 2020 – 15 July 2021) which was also unanimously passed by the delegates.
At the end of the Day 1 of the GM, the members of Amnesty Nepal’s Kathmandu University Youth Network based in Dhulikhel performed a stage drama showcasing how deaths happen during abusive investigatory practices in Nepal with almost no accountability in such cases. Amnesty Nepal is calling the Government of Nepal to take urgent and concerted actions to prevent custodial deaths, including through an independent, fair, and impartial investigations.
Meanwhile, the Election Coordinator also informed the delegates and candidates of the procedures including key notices relating to the general election that was to be held on 2 April for the National Board and Appeal Committee roles.
Day II – Election for National Board and Appeals Committee — 2 April 2022
On 2 April 2022, the elections for the National Board and the Appeals Committee were held. Before the election, each of the candidates standing for the roles of National Board and Appeal Committee were allowed to put their vision, plan of action and commitment in five minutes.
Through a democratic process of secret ballot, 251 voters representing 77 Groups, 49 Youth Networks and 90 supporter members of Amnesty Nepal exercised their rights to choose the leaders of their choice at the National Board and the Appeals Committee roles for a term of two years.
The newly elected National Board constitutes Bipin Budhathoki as the Chairperson and Roshan Bajgain as the Treasurer. The members of the board include Shachita Kuikel, Bimala Wagle, Manju Bishwakarma, Keshab Pokharel, Nikhil Pokharel, Hom Bahadur Adhikari, Devendra Sejuwal, Garima Pandey and Barun Kuikel.
The newly elected Appeal Committee constitutes Jivan Prasad Phuyal as the Coordinator, and Laxmi Regmi and Lokendra Singh as its members.
Day III – Press Meet and First Meeting of National Board – 3 April 2022
Organizing a press meet on 3 April 2022, Amnesty International Nepal informed the media about the conclusion of the general meeting, the issues presented, discussed and approved and the newly formed National Board and the Appeals Committee.
Read the Press Release issued before the AGM.
Following the press meet, the newly formed National Board held its first meeting at Dhulikhel Lodge Resort and discussed over various agenda. The meeting also decided Keshab Pokharel as the Vice-Chair, Shachita Kuikel as the General Secretary and Hom Bahadur Adhikari as the Deputy General Secretary. The meeting also decided to nominate Pasang Sherpa, former member of the National Board as a candidate from Amnesty Nepal to the role of International Board Member.
Read the Press Release issued and distributed at the Press Meet.