Kathmandu: Eighteen years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on November 21, 2006, survivors of Nepal’s decade-long armed conflict continue to await justice and reparations. The CPA, a landmark agreement between the government and the then CPN (Maoist) rebels, aimed to address serious human rights violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and pave the way for sustainable peace.

Despite significant political milestones—including the promulgation of the Interim Constitution and the drafting of Nepal’s new Constitution—the transitional justice process remains incomplete. Truth and justice for victims of the armed conflict have yet to be realized.

In February 2015, the government established two transitional justice mechanisms: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission for Investigation of Disappeared Persons (CIDP). However, these bodies struggled to achieve substantive progress, with investigations and reparations moving at a slow pace.

The TRC has received 63,718 complaints, of which 3,000 remain unresolved, while the CIDP has registered 3,243 cases, with 2,496 currently under investigation. The survivors of the conflict and their families continue to push for meaningful accountability and compensation.

In April 2024, a recommendation committee led by former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra was formed to propose office-bearers for the two commissions. This marked a renewed effort to expedite the transitional justice process. Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Kumar Chaurasia emphasized the government’s commitment to concluding the peace process. "Although many aspects of the CPA have been fulfilled, delivering justice to victims remains a priority," he said.

The Third Amendment to the Act on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and CIDP has provided a legal foundation for moving forward. Political consensus has also played a key role in reinvigorating the transitional justice agenda.

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey acknowledged delays in the peace process, which was initially expected to conclude within six months of the CPA’s signing. “Due to various reasons, progress has been slower than anticipated,” he stated.

While the CPA has facilitated significant political transformations, victims and their families remain at the heart of Nepal's unfinished journey toward reconciliation and justice. Their demands for accountability and reparations continue to shape the discourse on peace and stability in the country.