Orientation on Disability-Inclusive Justice System in Surkhet

Published on: July 4, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A group of people is seated at round tables in a conference room, with Laxmi Nepal standing in the center, wearing a pink shirt and dark sunglasses. She is gesturing with her hands while speaking to the group. A projector screen with a presentation is visible in the background.

Access Planet Organization successfully conducted a one-day orientation on the disability-inclusive justice system in Surkhet on 1st July 2025, with the support of Women's Fund Asia/Leading From The South. A total of 24 persons representing Nepal Police, District Courts, the Supreme Court, and the Nepal Bar Association participated in the program. Advocate Mukunda Hari Dahal and Laxmi Nepal, the executive director of Access Planet, had done the facilitation for this one-day orientation program. The orientation brought together 24 participants representing key justice sector institutions, including the Nepal Police, District Courts, Supreme Court, and the Nepal Bar Association. The session was facilitated by Advocate Mukunda Hari Dahal and Ms. Laxmi Nepal, the Executive Director of Access Planet Organization. The program aimed to enhance understanding and promote inclusive practices within the justice system to ensure better access to justice for persons with disabilities.

Objectives of the orientation

To raise awareness about the diverse types of disabilities and the systemic barriers persons with disabilities face in order to promote inclusive justice practices.
Build the capacity of police, judiciary, and legal personnel to adopt disability-inclusive and rights-based approaches.
Make justice infrastructure and procedures physically, procedurally, and communicatively accessible to all.

The first session of the orientation, led by Ms. Laxmi Nepal, introduced participants to the concepts, types, and models of disability through interactive discussions and a case study that highlighted the real-life challenges faced by persons with disabilities. The second session focused on international and national legal frameworks, emphasizing the importance of inclusive justice systems and identifying major legal and institutional barriers, such as inaccessible infrastructure and discriminatory practices. Key recommendations, including the need for reasonable accommodation, universal design, and stronger institutional accountability, were discussed. The final session explored procedural aspects of the justice system and their impact on persons with disabilities, using a case study to highlight gaps and systemic failures. The participants, including representatives from courts, police, and the Nepal Bar Association, acknowledged the lack of legal provisions, committed to future actions, and recognized the importance of training justice actors and incorporating assistive technologies. The initiative by Access Planet was widely appreciated, especially in light of the government’s limited engagement in such critical capacity-building efforts.

Outputs

Justice sector stakeholders of Surkhet enhanced their understanding of disability rights and committed to adopting inclusive practices within their institutions.
The program highlighted key legal and procedural gaps in justice access for persons with disabilities, especially those with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.
There was strong commitment from stakeholders and widespread appreciation for Access Planet’s leadership in promoting disability-inclusive justice.

Image Gallery

A man in a light blue shirt, stands and speaks to a group of four women seated around a circular table during a session, holding papers in his hand.

A man with glasses, wearing a white shirt and a dark vest, stands and speaks to two people seated at a round table. The woman on the left is listening intently, while the man on the right is looking at a laptop. The background shows more people seated at tables in a room with a sign that says "RARA HALL."

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