Orientation on Disability Inclusive Justice System in Pokhara

With the funding support of Women’s Fund Asia under the Leading From the South initiative, Access Planet Organization successfully conducted an Orientation on a Disability-Inclusive Justice System in Pokhara on 10 July 2025. The program aimed to raise awareness and build the capacity of key justice sector stakeholders on the importance of ensuring justice systems are accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities. A total of 19 participants from various justice sector institutions, including the Nepal Police, District Court, Supreme Court, and Nepal Bar Association from Kaski District, took part in the program. Mukunda Dahal and Laxmi Nepal had don the facilitation in the program.

Objectives 

• To raise awareness about the diverse types of disabilities and the systemic barriers persons with disabilities face in order to promote inclusive justice practices.

• To build the capacity of police, judiciary, and legal personnel to adopt disability-inclusive and rights-based approaches.

• To promote justice infrastructure and procedures that are physically, procedurally, and communicatively accessible to all.

The orientation program included three key sessions designed to enhance participants’ understanding and capacity to promote inclusive legal practices. The first session, led by Laxmi Nepal and Mukunda Hari Dahal, focused on defining disability, its types, and models, while addressing misconceptions around categorization and disability identity cards. The second session explored legal frameworks, encouraging a shift from a welfare-based to a rights-based approach, with emphasis on dignified language, legal barriers, and supported decision-making for persons with intellectual disabilities. The final session addressed procedural aspects of law, highlighting challenges in legal processes and stressing the importance of inclusive legal aid, accessibility, and institutional accountability. Participants found the sessions informative and expressed commitment to applying rights-based approaches and improving justice access for persons with disabilities through policy reforms and strengthened local mechanisms.

Outputs 

• Participants gained a clear understanding of disability rights and legal definitions.
• Key barriers in Nepal’s justice system for persons with disabilities were identified and discussed.
• Participants were introduced to national and international legal frameworks on disability rights.
• Innovative inclusive justice practices from Nepal and abroad were shared and explored.
• Participants committed to advocating for inclusive, accessible, and just legal systems.