Fixing Nepal’s Broken Medico-Legal System

Rape is a coercive act that fundamentally violates human dignity, autonomy, and bodily integrity. It is not merely a personal crime but an affront to the basic rights and humanity of the survivor, leaving lasting physical, psychological, and social harm. In Nepal, although legal reforms have increasingly recognised sexual violence as a grave offence, the path to justice for survivors remains obstructed by procedural gaps, societal stigma, and institutional neglect. Among the many barriers that stand between victims and justice, one of the most overlooked areas is the medico-legal system—the critical bridge that connects medicine and law in establishing truth.