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In February 2007, USIP facilitated a series of dialogues between civil society, the Nepal police, and representatives of political parties to identify areas of mutual concern related to security and the rule of law in Nepal. This USIPeace Briefing presents a list of high-priority issues developed as a result of these meetings.
Latest from USIP on Nepal
- October 14, 2009 | Event
In the aftermath of violent conflict in countries such as Nepal, public distrust of the police can undermine justice and security sector reform efforts and weaken the rule of law. How can justice and security sector reform be approached in a way that strengthens the rule of law?
- September 3, 2009 | Resource
This path-breaking volume presents broad guidelines and specific prescriptions for combating serious crime in societies emerging from conflict.
- May 27, 2009 | In the Field
Senior Program Officers Nina Sughrue and Noor Kirdar continued USIP’s support for the international Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), run by the Italian Caribinieri in Vicenza, Italy. CoESPU, which was established on March 1st 2005, stems from an Italian initiative, supported by the G8 countries to provide technical and financial assistance in order to improve global capacity for sustaining peace stability operations, particularly in African countries.
- May 17, 2009 | In the Field
USIP’s Rule of Law program is preparing to conduct a baseline survey on security and access to justice in Nepal. Acting Director of Rule of Law Colette Rausch and Program Assistant Morgan Miller visited Nepal in May to discuss final preparations with the Kathmandu-based team leading the survey effort.
Nepal has experienced a series of remarkable changes over the past few years as it has transitioned from a Hindu Kingdom with a Maoist insurgency to a secular republic with a Maoist-led government. The people’s movement of April 2006, the November 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to end the armed conflict, and the April 2008 Constituent Assembly election all marked critical steps towards the establishment of a peaceful and democratic Nepal. Yet significant challenges remain. Nepal has, like many other states emerging from conflict, seen increasing crime, and the continued use of violent methods for political, economic and social transformation. Nepal’s weakened state security and justice institutions have been unable to adequately address these and other security and rule of law challenges. To assist, the United States Institute of Peace has implemented a series of inter-related projects aimed at enhancing the rule of law in Nepal.
USIP, through the Rule of Law Center, supports Nepal in its transition by focusing on two areas:
- Strengthening security and rule of law through dialogue
- Enganging in transitional justice discussions
In addition, USIP has provided a variety of practical tools and resources to civil society, justice sector actors, political party representatives and government officials in Nepal. This has included the following:
- Publication of Combating Serious Crimes in Postconflict Societies in Nepali and distribution to the courts, police, Nepal Bar Association, law library, and other institutions.
- Compilation and distribution of resource material on the constitutional process.
- Distribution of the Model Codes for Post-Conflict Criminal Justice: Model Criminal Code as well as various police acts from different countries.
To disseminate information, facilitate discussion, and aid donor coordination on Nepal, USIP organizes a variety of workshops and public events for government officials, NGO representatives, congressional staffers, media, the diplomatic community and the public in Washington D.C. Past events have included panelists from Nepalese civil society (human rights, security, media), Nepal government ministers, current and former Nepali diplomats, US and South-Asia-based think tank analysts, US Congressional staffers, and State Department and USAID officials. USIP also hosts a monthly working group for members of the Nepal Diaspora in the Washington metropolitan area, the Washington Nepal Forum.
For more information on USIP's programs in Nepal, please contact Colette Rausch at crausch@usip.org