Families of conflict victims have raised concerns regarding the possible effects of the amnesty provision for serious human rights violations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission on Enforced Disappearances (CED) bills passed by the legislature parliament. The two bills were passed on Friday after making several amendments to the initial draft. Fourteen organisations consisting of families of conflict victims released a joint statement on Sunday, requesting that the political parties reconsider some of the contentious provisions in the bills.
“We strongly object to the provision regarding amnesty and reconciliation that don’t require the consent of the victims,” reads the statement.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court released a decision prohibiting grants of amnesty for serious human rights violations committed during the armed conflict. The court found that grants of amnesties, limitations on criminal prosecutions, and the 35-day time limit on filing rape cases do not conform to the standards established by the Nepalese Constitution and international law.
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