Human Rights HotLine
Access in emergency, bank of information and podium for advocacy during transition.
During the transition, Nepal faces several challenges, particularly in terms of breach of human rights and humanitarian norms, democratic values and principles. Human rights community is seriously concerned about the continued systematic and gross pattern of human rights violation and a highly volatile transition and the organized 'residue of violence'. This critical environment has warranted a swift and coordinated response from human rights community. The increasing numbers of rebel splinter groups, vigilantes and violent political and criminal groups are continuing to pose threat to the smooth transition to democracy. Criminal groups are gradually stealing away the state. Human security is at stake. This state of lawlessness and political vacuum has in turn, brewed a cycle of revenge and violence amongst the common citizenry and in many instances incidences of retaliation has been witnessed.
The historical Comprehensive Peace Agreement has opened a wide corridor towards peace and reconciliation. Victims of forced displacement have begun returning to their homestead including the Maoist cadres, IDPs and security personnel, and this is likely to increase the incidences of human rights violations at the community, village and district level. Hundreds of cases of involuntary disappearance are yet to be addressed. The structure, scope and jurisdiction of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission is yet to be known with enough room for confusion, speculation and uncertainty about confronting the violent past.
Regional groups such as Madhesi Mukti Morcha, Tarai Jantantric Mukti Morcha, Terai Cobra, Madhesi Armed Group and the Young Communist League (YCL) are engaged in often violent activities. Due to unchecked post conflict serious crimes, rule of law is at stake coupled with rampant impunity to rights violators. The state of uncertainty, confusion and chaos has led to speculation among common citizens for the accomplishment of peaceful Constituent Assembly election on the stipulated date. In some instances, there is deeply ingrained revenge among IDPs towards the past atrocities of Maoists. Additionally, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum has violently made their presence felt. To date, there is hardly any room for dialogues with these groups to explore amicable consensus. Following the track record of security situation and political vacuum for the last few months we can anticipate the rugged road before the Constituent Assembly elections and beyond.
In this critical context, INHURED has established Human Rights HotLine, a round-the-clock (seven twenty-four) emergency service to monitor and respond promptly to human rights emergencies during transition. This special project will formally run from 1, August 2007. Human Rights Hotline service is available to victims of human rights violations, their relatives, non-governmental organizations, concerned UN agencies, media and other stakeholders. In the present context, Human Rights Hotline envisions to gradually broaden its scope of work throughout the country in collaboration with other like-minded organizations.
Hotline Contact Address
INHURED International
GPO Box 12684-Kathmandu
Ceasefire House, Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur-2, Nepal
Tel: 977-1-5531896, Fax: 977-1-5547616
E-mail: info@popwatch.org.np, ceasefire_nepal@yahoo.com
URL: www.inhurednepal.org