Conducted on November 7, 2024

Access Planet Organization, in the 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 members of judicial committees of Nepalgunj sub-metropolitan and Janaki Rural municipality at Banke district. The dialogue aimed to create co-understanding amongst the judicial committee members on disability-inclusive justice mechanisms and to identify on the way forward on disability-inclusive justice mechanism at the local level.

Objectives:

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

Janaki Rural Municipality and Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City recently held a discussion on justice access for women with disabilities. Key points raised included the lack of cases brought to the judicial committees and the tendency of Dalit women and women with disabilities to settle disputes within their communities. Both municipalities have provided financial support, with Janaki offering NPR 20,000 and Nepalgunj providing NPR 200,000 in collateral-free loans for persons with disabilities.

Following a presentation by Gargi Nepal from Access Planet on disability-inclusive justice, judicial committee members from both municipalities committed to raising awareness and encouraging women with disabilities to seek justice through formal mechanisms.

Outcomes 

• Judicial committees have been oriented on the disability inclusive justice mechanism at the local level
• Local government have shared their commitments for working more sensitively on the issues of women with disabilities
• Access Planet’s networking and relationship with the local government have been strengthened.