Kathmandu, 30 August 2026: On the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, victims’ community and civil society organisations call on the Government of Nepal to urgently advance the long-stalled transitional justice process and uphold victims’ rights to truth, justice, effective remedy and reparation for serious human rights violations committed during the 1996–2006 armed conflict.
For families of people subjected to enforced disappearance, 30 August is not simply a day of remembrance. It is also a reminder that, two decades after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, thousands of families continue to live with uncertainty and ambiguity about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.
The formation of a new government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah presents an important opportunity to break the cycle of this undue delay, political interference and impunity that has thus far undermined Nepal’s transitional justice process for nearly two decades. We urge the current government to commit to completing transitional justice into concrete action following a victim-centric, consultative and transparent process.
The formation of a new government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah presents an important opportunity to break the cycle of this undue delay, political interference and impunity that has thus far undermined Nepal’s transitional justice process for nearly two decades
The government’s decision in May 2026, through an Ordinance on the Dismissal of Public Officials 2026, to remove the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) provides an opportunity to reset the process through gaining wider trust of victims and civil society. However, the government must now establish independent, impartial and effective transitional justice mechanisms through a transparent, merit-based and participatory process, and ensure that they have the authority, resources and institutional independence necessary to fulfil their mandates.
However, any new appointment process must be based on publicly disclosed criteria of competence, integrity, independence and human rights expertise. In addition, victims and survivors must have a meaningful role and participation in the process, not merely be consulted after decisions have been made.
The government must also ensure that those responsible for serious human rights violations—including enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other sexual violence, unlawful killings and crimes under international law—are subject to effective investigation and prosecution in fair trials. No one can be granted amnesty for crimes under international law.
More importantly, the justice process must be victim centered. Their participation must be meaningful throughout the process, including in the selection of commissioners, setting investigative priorities, developing reparations programmes, memorialization initiatives, pursuing truth and preserving the memory of victims.
Particular attention must be given to the rights and needs of families of the disappeared, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, persons who acquired disabilities as a result of conflict-related violations, and children affected by conflict and others who have faced barriers to justice and reparation.
We call on the government to:
- Establish without further delay an independent and transparent process to appoint commissioners to the TRC and CIEDP, based on merit, integrity, competence and demonstrable independence from all quarters.
- Ensure the meaningful and effective participation of victims and survivors in the selection process, mandate and functioning of the commissions
- Ensure prompt, effective and independent investigation of the serious violations, including enforced disappearance, torture, unlawful killings, rape and other forms of sexual violence.
- Ensure prompt, effective and independent investigations and prosecutions where there is sufficient evidence of criminal responsibility, including, where applicable, the responsibility of those who ordered, authorised, facilitated or failed to prevent or punish serious violations.
- Guarantee effective and comprehensive reparations to all victims and survivors, including interim relief, rehabilitation and appropriate support, without requiring them to wait for the completion of lengthy investigations.
- Establish confidential, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed procedures so that all survivors can come forward without fear of re-traumatisation, stigma, or retaliation.
- Protect, preserve and secure conflict-era evidence and archives, including records and information concerning enforced disappearances, and ensure victims and families have access to information about their loved ones.
- Ensure transparency and public reporting on the commissions’ investigations, findings and progress, while protecting victims, witnesses and legitimate privacy and security interests.
- Adopt and publicly disclose a clear, time-bound plan for completing the transitional justice process, with measurable benchmarks and regular public reporting.
- Ensure guarantees of non-recurrence, including institutional and legal reforms necessary to prevent future human rights violations and strengthen accountability for state and non-state actors.
- Ratify International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as the year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of adoption of UN Convention.
- Ensure all decisions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and the Supreme Court in relation to enforced disappearances and transitional justice, including the Court’s recent ruling on reparations are duly implemented without further delay.
- Support state-recognised memorialization, including local and national memorials, archives and commemorative days developed in consultation with victims’ families, as a form of symbolic reparation and public acknowledgment.
Joint statement issued by conflict victim community and civil society organizations on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances