Justice For Victims

Despite political commitment and legal instruments, justice for victims of the decade-long conflict continues to be elusive 18 years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). In 2014, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIEDP) were formed to ensure justice, reconciliation and reparation for the conflict victims. But these crucial mechanisms often hit snags. Conducting the transitional justice (TJ) process transparently and inclusively has remained challenging. The TJ process requires the victims’ consent and adherence to the Supreme Court’s order and international laws. Moreover, the differences among the major political parties regarding the heads and office-bearers of TRC and CIEDP also hindered the successful conclusion of the TJ process. These commissions also suffered from a lack of necessary resources – financial and human – for the collection of conflict cases, fair investigation and holding the grave human rights violators accountable for their crimes.