The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has reported receiving more than 15,000 new complaints related to conflict-era incidents.
At a press conference in Kathmandu on Sunday, the Commission stated that it had received 15,191 new complaints, mainly concerning cases of enforced disappearance, rape, or other serious sexual violence. Under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2071 BS, the Commission had issued a three-month public notice seeking such complaints.
During this period, 5,471 complaints were received directly at the Commission, 5,808 from districts, and 3,912 complaints were related to rape or sexual violence, according to Commission member and spokesperson Achyut Prasad Bhandari. Previously, only 314 complaints of rape or sexual violence had been registered. The highest number of district complaints came from Jajarkot, with 883 submissions.
Bhandari also stated that the total number of complaints, including both new and old, has now reached 78,909.
Commission Chair Mahesh Thapa highlighted that complaints related to rape and sexual violence are significantly higher than before. He assured that the Commission would maintain confidentiality for victims while proceeding with its investigations. Thapa also stated that all cases would undergo a thorough truth verification process within the first two years, followed by the next procedural steps.
If provided with adequate resources, the Commission aims to complete all its work within four years. Complaints can only be filed regarding incidents that occurred between Falgun 2, 2052 BS, and Mangsir 5, 2063 BS.
About the Author
