Nepal

In 2024, Nepal continued to advance democratic consolidation and post-conflict recovery, with a renewed focus on justice, human rights and inclusive governance. The country continued efforts to advance transitional justice following its decade-long conflict. The government demonstrated political will by appointing a Transitional Justice and Human Rights Advisor and initiating the revival of the Search Committee tasked with nominating leadership for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation of Enforced Disappearance. These developments signaled a critical step toward moving forward with a more inclusive and accountable justice system.

Despite these advances, the gap between policy and practice remained a persistent challenge, particularly for marginalized communities and conflict-affected populations. Women, Dalits, Indigenous Peoples and ethnic groups, and other vulnerable segments of society continued to face barriers in accessing justice, including social stigma, limited legal literacy and inadequate institutional support. In this context, UNDP, through its Enhancing Access to Justice through Institutional Reform (A2J) Project-II, played a pivotal role in strengthening Nepal’s justice sector and promoting equitable access to legal remedies.

The A2J Project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, focused on institutional reform, legal empowerment and digital innovation. One of the most transformative achievements was the rollout of the Integrated Legal Aid Software and Mobile Application by the Central Legal Aid Committee (CLAC). This digital platform streamlined data collection, case tracking, and reporting, significantly enhancing transparency and accountability in legal aid delivery. By the end of 2024, 699 cases had been documented by 58 district legal aid lawyers, marking a substantial improvement in service delivery and oversight.

Legal aid services expanded dramatically, reaching over 37,700 individuals across the country. Women accounted for 57 percent of beneficiaries, and youth made up 36 percent, reflecting the project’s inclusive approach. The proposed Integrated Legal Aid Bill, which was pre-approved by the cabinet, further institutionalized these gains by expanding eligibility criteria to include social, cultural and vulnerability factors. This legislative initiative aimed to decentralize legal aid services, aligning them with Nepal’s federal structure and ensuring that justice is accessible at the local level.

UNDP’s efforts also focused on building the capacity of justice sector professionals. More than 2,500 professionals, including judges, prosecutors and legal aid providers, 41 percent of whom were women, received training in areas such as investigation, law formulation, information technology, as well as gender and social inclusion. These capacity-building efforts contributed to a nine percent increase in the disposal of backlog cases in the judiciary and an almost 67 percent increase in the performance rate for the Office of the Attorney General, as noted in the mid-term review of its five-year strategy.

At the community level, local judicial committees demonstrated improved performance, resolving over 45 percent of disputes through mediation. In Karnali province, the case settlement rate rose from 59 percent in 2023 to 72 percent in 2024, underscoring the effectiveness of decentralized dispute resolution mechanisms. Local governments also showed increased commitment to justice sector development, with 172 municipalities across four provinces allocating a combined budget of US$1.36 million for law and justice initiatives.

Community engagement was central to the project’s strategy, combining broad outreach with targeted legal empowerment. Through partnerships with civil society organizations and academic institutions, over 374,000 people were reached via media and community events, using creative methods like street dramas, song competitions and justice dialogues to raise awareness on legal and human rights issues. Complementing this, the Community Legal Education (CLE) initiative, in partnership with universities, mobilized 191 law students and interns, over half of them women, from Purbanchal and Far-West Universities, to deliver legal education and aid to more than 5,700 individuals. Additionally, 19 young lawyers from marginalized backgrounds provided legal support to 386 people and assisted local judicial committees in resolving disputes.

The project’s inclusive outreach was reflected in its demographic impact. Of those directly reached, 51 percent were women, 20 percent were Dalits and 29 percent belonged to Indigenous and Madhesi communities. The project also engaged 290 individuals from Muslim communities and 47 from LGBTIQ+ groups.

Strategic partnerships amplified the project’s impact. Collaborations with the Supreme Court, Office of the Attorney General, Nepal Bar Association and local governments facilitated systemic reforms. The project also partnered with UN Women, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF and other UNDP governance initiatives to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to justice sector reform.

By enhancing institutional capacity, expanding access to legal aid and fostering community engagement, the A2J Project contributed meaningfully to building a more just, equitable and resilient society. These achievements not only addressed immediate needs but also laid the groundwork for sustainable, long-term transformation in Nepal’s rule of law landscape.

1. The lowest strata in the traditional Hindu caste hierarchy in South Asia.