NEPAL

Torture and other forms of ill-treatment were systematically practiced in Nepal during the People's War 1996-2006. Since then, the occurrence of torture by the security forces and the Maoists has reduced but, torture remains common, especially in police custody. For example, between January-September 2008, 760 (24.6%) of the 3,095 detainees, including juveniles, interviewed in 15 districts, claimed that they had been tortured or ill-treated.

REDRESS is working in partnership with Advocacy Forum, a leading human rights NGO in Nepal, to reduce incidents of torture in Nepal and to improve torture survivors' ability to access justice and obtain reparation for what they have suffered. Advocacy Forum conducts regular visits to detention centres in Nepal to document incidents of torture and REDRESS is working with Advocacy Forum to submit specific cases to the UN Human Rights Committee. We are also providing training for lawyers and doctors in Nepal to improve the quality of medico-legal reports.

17th February, 2009 is the 5th anniversary of the torture and killing of 15 year old Maina Sunuwar in Panchkal army barracks. REDRESS is supporting the campaign ‘Prosecutions Now! Save Justice’ by Advocacy Forum, other human rights organisations and families of the ‘disappeared’ and survivors of human rights abuses in Nepal. The campaign will show how Maina’s killing is illustrative of the failure to prosecute anyone for these horrendous crimes and the abuses suffered by hundreds of others.

Campaign postcard Maina
Campaign Press Release
Watch the video here
Our Caseworker Lucy was in Nepal in February/March 09 and kept us updated via her blog.