INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:

Kathmandu, September 22 Conflict victims today submitted a memorandum to Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Bhanu Bhakta

Dhakal, suggesting revisions to modality for consultations on Transitional Justice Act amendment. Organising a preliminary consultation with

stakeholders on September 16, Minister Dhakal had presented a modality for holding broad-based consultations in all seven provinces to

gather inputs for amendment to the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act-2014

In the memorandum, Conflict Victims Common Platform suggested holding consultations with victims and other stakeholders, separately

It said putting everybody together might result in victims being overshadowed

Separate consultation with victims should be held for one full day prior to holding discussions with other stakeholders, stated the

memorandum. The modality put forward by the ministry has proposed holding consultation with 80 stakeholders, comprising victims, party

representatives, media persons, police and army personnel, in each of the seven provinces

As per the proposal, each discussion will last for five hours from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. &Proposed five hours will not be enough to gather

inputs from all stakeholders

So separate day-long talks should be held with the victims, a day prior to consultation with other stakeholders,& read the memorandum

The victims have also suggested for clarity in the questionnaire

They suggested developing separate questionnaires in consultation with experts for separate issues related to transitional justice, such as

reparation, ascertaining truth, prosecution and special court

The victims said provincial headquarters might not be accessible to all victims for holding consultation, specially those in the most

conflict-hit areas

So the venues should be fixed in a way to ensure maximum participation of people from conflict-hit areas. &Conducive environment should be

created toensure that victims of rape and sexual violence put forth their concerns without fear or hesitation,& read the

memorandum. Regarding the ministry proposal to include 20 conflict victims, among 80 participants, in the proposed consultation, the CVCP

said the proposal should be clear on the body that selected the participants from among the victims, and that the CVCP be recognised as the

main stakeholder. According to the memorandum, rapporteurs should be designated prior to the consultation programmes, and a report should be

made public immediately following the consultations

The victims also said all the processes related to consultations should be monitored by the National Human Rights Commission

Former chairman of the CVCP Suman Adhikari said they proposed such revisions because they could not completely trust the government because

of its past activities

&We cautiously welcome the government move,& he said. The post Victims call for revising talks modality appeared first on The Himalayan

Times.