Nepal’s 1 billion NPR Reparation Budget: A Step Forward or a Missed Opportunity Without Policy Formation?

by Anupa Aryal, Advocacy Forum – Nepal

Nepal proposed a 1 billion NPR (approx. 7.1 million USD) reparation budget to support transitional justice, compensation, economic aid, and reintegration for conflict-affected families. Despite its historic nature, implementation challenges persist.

The pending Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) bill, along with the 2015 Constitution, acknowledges reparation as a right for victims.

Historically, reparation initiatives in Nepal have been primarily conceived as monetary compensation and have excluded many victims, such as those of torture and sexual violence. The Supreme Court’s decision to expand reparation beyond monetary compensation has prompted provincial actions. However, a lack of coordination among provinces has led to inconsistent relief schemes, causing feelings of discrimination and dissatisfaction among victims. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers is now committed to coordinating with provincial secretaries to develop unified reparation policies, ensuring equitable treatment for all conflict victims across Nepal.

Civil society organisations have been instrumental in designing programs for conflict victims, highlighting issues with reparative initiative and budget allocations. Victims reported that the government failed to consult them and other civil societies, resulting in misallocated resources and a lack of awareness about budget provisions.

While the Nepalese government has taken significant steps towards addressing the needs of victims of conflict by allocating substantial budgets for reparation, the lack of an overarching and cohesive reparation policy has led to underutilization of these funds, resulting in victims’ needs remaining unaddressed and resources being frozen.

This article was first published in the Community Corner of our Just Reparation newsletter. These contributions are invaluable in enriching our collective understanding and fostering meaningful dialogue within the reparation community of practice. If you would like to be featured, we encourage you to submit your contributions to [email protected].