Stakeholders have stated that the Human Rights Assistance Desk, operated to ensure victims of human rights violations and abuses have access to judicial processes, is increasingly becoming established as an effective support mechanism for poor and marginalized victims.
A meeting of the Human Rights Assistance Desk, formed under the Protection Project through the collaboration of DCA Nepal and the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), was held in Nepalgunj on June 17, 2026. Participants in the meeting expressed the view that the financial and technical support provided through the Assistance Desk has played an important role in enabling victims to access justice.
Mr. Bhola Mahat, INSEC Lumbini Province Coordinator, stated that the financial and technical support provided to individuals victimized by human rights violations has proven effective in facilitating their access to judicial processes. He informed that victims from all 12 districts of Lumbini Province have benefited from the program.
He also referred to the hunger strike undertaken by women’s rights activist Ruby Khan and stated that facilitation efforts were made to resolve the issue through dialogue. He explained that, following appeals for sensitivity regarding Khan’s condition after she was admitted to Sanjeevani College of Medical Sciences Hospital in Nepalgunj due to deteriorating health, a five-point written agreement was reached with the government side, leading to the suspension of her 23-day-long hunger strike on May 20, 2026.
Advocacy Forum Provincial Coordinator Advocate Basanta Gautam emphasized that proceedings related to the incident involving Ruby Khan should be carried out in accordance with human rights principles and professional values. He stated that the police administration should conduct an impartial investigation and ensure victim-friendly justice.
Newly elected President of the District Bar Association, Banke, Advocate Punam Shrestha, suggested that human rights defenders should take initiatives to create an environment conducive to a repeat post-mortem examination, an impartial investigation, and the dignified management of the body in accordance with the demands of the victim’s family in the case of Sirjana Budha Magar.
During the meeting, INSEC Lumbini Province Program Officer Tek Nath Acharya reported that, over the six months from January to June 2026, financial and technical assistance had been provided to 15 victims of human rights violations and abuses to facilitate their access to justice. Among the beneficiaries were five victims from Banke, four from Bardiya, one from Dang, one from Rupandehi, one from Kapilvastu, two from Arghakhanchi, and one from Gulmi.
He further informed that, based on the nature of the incidents, the beneficiaries included three victims of domestic violence, one victim of gang rape, nine victims of rape, one victim of a witchcraft accusation, and one victim of an unnatural sexual assault case. Among those who received support, one was male, and 14 were female.
Furthermore, in terms of caste and ethnic background, the beneficiaries included one Brahmin/Chhetri, five Dalits, seven Indigenous persons, one Madhesi, and one member of the Muslim community. According to the presented data, two of the victims who received assistance during the past six months had already obtained justice through the courts.
The meeting also extended congratulations and best wishes for a successful tenure to Advocate Punam Shrestha on her election as President of the District Bar Association, Banke.
The meeting was attended by INSEC Executive Committee Member Advocate Bikash Acharya, senior citizen Krishna Murari Prasad Bhatt, Nirmala Poudel of Shakti Samuha, Maimuna Siddiqui of Fatima Foundation, Dilisha Gautam of FEDO, Siddharaj Paneru of CWIN Nepal, Man Bahadur Budha of the District Legal Aid Committee, Prabhat Kumar Thakuri of the Human Rights Alliance, Dr. Aravinda Shakya of the OCMC at Bheri Hospital, Advocate Bishwajit Tiwari of IHRC, Advocate Bal Bahadur Chand, Advocate Suresh Gautam, and others. A total of 21 human rights defenders participated in the program.