Dialogue with Stakeholders and Judicial Committee at Tulsipur Dang on Disability Inclusive Justice Mechanism at the Local Level

Conducted on 3 October, 2024

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, judicial committee members, lawyers, disability and women human rights defenders of Tulsipur Dang. The dialogue aimed to create co-understanding amongst the stakeholders on justice mechanisms inclusive of 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.

From the experiences shared by the participants during the discussion, it was revealed that Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City is addressing violence against women and prioritizing employment for people with disabilities. Despite counseling efforts, justice for women with disabilities remains limited due to political protection and financial barriers. A rape case involving a woman with an intellectual disability reached the Supreme Court, and calls were made for institutional interpreters and better accommodations. Gargi Nepal from Access Planet presented on disability rights and the role of stakeholders in promoting the rights of women with disabilities. During the interaction, the representatives made the following commitments:

1. Ensure that women with disabilities facing injustice receive legal support.
2. Coordinate with various concerned bodies to provide family education.
3. Waive municipal taxes and fees for low-income women with disabilities.
4. Prioritize cases involving women with disabilities in the judicial committee.
5. Establish a help desk for women with disabilities.
6. Provide full support to women with disabilities.
7. Ensure equal opportunities for everyone.
8. Work towards accessibility for all.

With these commitments, the interaction concluded on a hopeful note, reflecting a collective effort toward a more inclusive and just society for women with disabilities.