Review of Human Rights Education and Training in the Criminal Justice System in Nepal

Abstract

The protracted insurgency and associated lawlessness in Nepal seriously undermined the criminal justice system in Nepal between 1996 and 2006. In the aftermath of the conflict, there remains a culture of impunity for serious violations of human rights committed during the conflict, impeding post-conflict reconstruction. Effective, well-formulated and properly targeted human rights training of law enforcement officials has the capacity to help prevent and remedy human rights violations in Nepal and to strengthen the criminal justice system. The purpose of this Review is to identify challenges and opportunities in strengthening human rights training in the criminal justice sector in Nepal by examining the extent to which different institutions and actors are currently delivering training, how such existing training might be improved, and where new or additional training could be developed and implemented. It makes 48 recommendations for strengthening human rights training in relation to the criminal justice system in Nepal, including for law enforcement bodies, external actors (such as non-government and international organisations) and law student education. It considers both the curricula and teaching methodology to be used.