A team of women surviving the decade-long armed conflict and suffering its effects Monday met with the officials of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) separately for the submission of their "Policy-level suggestions for women and girls-centered justice and reparation."
The conflict-hit women reached the offices of both commissions, the transitional justice mechanism formed to deal with the conflict-era cases of human rights violation, in the coordination of ''The Story Kitchen (TSK)".
On the occasion, they demanded that cases of rape and sexual violence against women should the topmost priority of the transitional justice mechanism and such cases must be addressed in a very sensitive way.
In response, TRC chairman Surya Kiran Gurung said they were more sensitive toward the cases of violence against women and girls including sexual violence and rape. "We are sensitive toward maintaining privacy and security of survivors of such incidents," he said, adding that privacy had been maintained in the investigations into such incidents. According to him, they are prodding up the government to make correction in the loopholes in the TRC Act.
Commission senior member Leela Udasi Khanal and member Manchala Jha pledged not to compromise regarding the issues of women. The issues of survivors of rape and sexual violence dating back to the conflict have been missed in the relief programmes announced by the State for the conflict-hit people, the two said, promising their best to ensure reparation for them.
Likewise, during their meeting with the CIEDP officials, they were assured that their demands would be met.
CIEDP member Bijul BK Dulal and member and spokesperson Prof Bishnu Pathak promised to include their issues in the recommendations for reparation.
On the occasion, TSK Chairperson Jaya Luitel said, "Pains the Nepali women suffered during the decade-long armed conflict are subjective and differ in nature due to patriarchal politics and social system and justice and reparation meant for conflict-affected people should be focused on women and girls."
A total of 15 conflict-hit women from Jumla, Kalikot, Surkeht, Banke and Kanchanpur were in the team.
