Truth-Seeking in Transitional Justice Context: A Policy Roadmap for Nepal

Nepal’s transitional justice process is frequently described as locally grounded, yet its legal and institutional frameworks- and their implementation- do not fully reflect the country’s complex conflict dynamics.  The 1996–2006 armed conflict was not solely political; it was deeply shaped by structural inequalities, exclusion, and ethnic and cultural marginalization. Effective post-conflict justice mechanisms must therefore be rooted in Nepal’s social realities, community practices, and cultural contexts rather than relying on imported institutional models.

This policy paper outlines a context-sensitive roadmap for strengthening truth-seeking within Nepal’s transitional justice framework. It examines why truth-seeking remains essential for sustainable peace, clarifies its intended objectives, and identifies the political and institutional factors that have hindered progress. Drawing on recent amendments to the 2014 Act governing the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappearances and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the paper analyses the evolving legal space for accountability and reconciliation. It concludes by proposing practical methods, participatory processes and strategic reforms to advance a credible, victim-centered, and locally grounded truth-seeking process in Nepal.

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