Dialogue with Stakeholders at Nepalgunj Banke on Disability Inclusive Justice Mechanism at the Local Level

Access Planet Organization, in support of USAID / The Asia Foundation Civil Society and the Media under the project entitled: “Strengthening Women's Network to Foster Access to Justice for Women with Disabilities”, conducted dialogue with the mixed stakeholders including court representatives, police office representatives, lawyers from District Attorney Office, disability and women human rights defenders of Banke district. The dialogue aimed to create co-understanding amongst the stakeholders on justice mechanisms inclusive to women with disabilities and to identify the way forward on disability-inclusive justice mechanisms at the local level.

Objectives:

• To sensitize stakeholders on the disability-inclusive justice mechanism at the local level.
• To gather commitments from stakeholders for working more sensitively on the issues of women with disabilities.

Gargi Nepal, Chairperson of Access Planet Organization, delivered a brief presentation on disability rights, highlighting the crucial role of stakeholders in promoting the rights of women with disabilities. The program provided a platform for participants to share their experiences and discuss actionable solutions for advancing inclusion and justice.
During an interactive session, participants highlighted challenges faced by women with disabilities in handling rape cases, including lack of evidence and belief in unattainable justice. District court and police representatives acknowledged the absence of formal complaints, as most cases are resolved at the community level. They committed to establishing reporting channels, setting up help desks, prioritizing and fast-tracking cases, and ensuring smooth forwarding of complaints to the judiciary to enhance access to justice.

Outcomes

• Stakeholders have been oriented on the disability-inclusive justice mechanism at the local level.
• Stakeholders have shared their commitments to working more sensitively on the issues of women with disabilities.
• Access Planet’s networking and relationship with the stakeholders at the district level has been strengthened.