KATHMANDU, Oct 10: In a significant development, political parties have come together to expedite the work related to transitional justice, aiming to complete it within a four-year timeframe.
In a demonstration of top leaders' consensus, the sub-committee operating under the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives has announced its intention to enact legislation that extends the term of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) by four years.
According to the bill proposed to amend the CIEDP Act, the CIEDP's term of office will be set at four years from the date of the chairman and members' appointment. The sub-committee has submitted this report to the main committee for further consideration.
Reviewing transitional justice
Furthermore, the bill contains a provision that allows for the termination of the CIEDP's term if it completes its work earlier than the specified four-year period. "If the CIEDP declares that the work of the peace process has been completed before the specified period, the term of the CIEDP will be deemed to have ended from the same date," the report on the bill states.
The Supreme Court issued a directive order on February 26, 2015, calling for amendments to ensure that serious human rights violations are not exempted from scrutiny. Despite several attempts to amend the Act, it has not been successful, and currently, there are no officials in the CIEDP.
Initially, the government proposed a bill for a two-year commission term, but members of the parliamentary sub-committee have agreed to extend it to four years. The decision takes into account the complexities of handling applications within the CIEDP, conducting related studies, processing applications within other state agencies, as well as engaging with international organizations and bodies.
Additionally, the revised bill addresses a broader range of issues, including sexual offenses. Complaints related to sexual violence and rape, whether from within Nepal or at the international level, will now be brought before the CIEDP. A three-month timeframe has been allocated for this purpose.
Members of the sub-committee believe that a four-year period is sufficient to address transitional justice issues comprehensively, thus ensuring that Nepal can move forward without lingering conflicts beyond this timeframe. This unified effort among political parties reflects their commitment to resolving these crucial matters in a timely manner.
