Conflict victim women await justice for decades

BY LAXMI CHAUDHARY

Janakpurdham, May 11: Justice continues to remain out of reach for many women affected by the armed conflict, although 18 years have elapsed since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2006. Despite promises of transitional justice, the experiences of women, ranging from sexual violence, forced marriages, and disappearances to economic and social marginalisation, have yet to be adequately addressed.

In a small urban area of Madhes Province, a 42-year-old woman (name changed) still grapples with the trauma of the conflict. Her husband was beaten, her three-year-old son injured and her father-in-law murdered during the conflict. 

“My husband still needs treatment. We spent a lot on our son’s injuries. I cannot even speak of the torture I endured,” she said. Despite repeated pleas at the local level, she was denied job opportunities and support, even as a recognised conflict survivor. She now supports her family by teaching at a private school, but says the trauma and financial burdens are ongoing.

Omakala Sah of Belhi, Saptari, lost her husband in 2003, after he was allegedly killed by Maoists on suspicion of being an informant. Left with two children, she took a job at a clothing store to make a living. “People talked behind my back, but I kept going for the sake of my children,” she said. 

Later, she learned sewing but struggled to find a space to set up a tailoring business. The government promised Rs. 1 million in installments as relief, but most of it was used for subsistence. “If I had received it in one go, I could’ve started a business,” she added. Her husband has yet to be declared a martyr and even victim ID distribution has stalled.

In Dhanusha’s Shahidnagar, Sitadevi Mukhiya’s husband, Shivaji, was forcibly taken in by the security forces nearly two decades ago and has remained missing since. “He was accused of being a Maoist supporter. “Security forces took him away, and he was never seen again,” she said. Sitadevi’s name is not even listed among conflict victims, making her ineligible for support. Her eldest son is disabled and her youngest works in India to make ends meet.

According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2023/24 report, 4,264 complaints related to conflict were filed in Madhes Province. Of these, 1,356 were sent to the commission’s headquarters and only 504 underwent preliminary investigation. Only 79 victim ID cards have been distributed so far. Despite the existence of Nepal’s Second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, many of its goals remain unfulfilled in Madhes. District-level committees were formed to address the specific needs of conflict-affected women and girls, but progress has been slow. 

Fulkumari Mahato, Madhes Province coordinator for the Conflict-Affected Women’s National Network, said that while political leaders have gained power, the victims, especially women and children, continue to suffer without justice or proper recognition.

Although the provincial government allocated Rs. 22 million for conflict victims in the current fiscal year 2024/25, only health insurance programmes have been implemented so far. Other promised initiatives, like skills training and livelihood support, remain 

largely ineffective.