The meeting was organized under the initiative Support to Local Women/Human Rights Defenders and Minority Groups in the Terai, supported by Peace Brigades International (PBI) Nepal and implemented by Madhesh Human Rights Home, in cooperation with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and local authorities.
During the discussions, participants acknowledged the impact of the committee’s dormancy. Systematic human rights violations had gone untracked, coordination between state institutions and civil society had weakened, and the legally mandated six-monthly meetings had lapsed. Members stressed the urgent need for regular meetings, stronger coordination, and improved protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups, including women and minority communities.
By the close of the meeting, the 12-member body agreed to restart its work with renewed focus. Comprising people’s representatives, the judiciary, police, civil society, and local media, the committee now faces the challenge of rebuilding momentum and ensuring that human rights protection remains a district-level priority.
The Human Rights Committee is part of Nepal’s official framework to monitor rights issues at the local level. Its revival in Kapilvastu is a key milestone within the Support to Local Women/Human Rights Defenders and Minority Groups in the Terai project, active since 2022. The project seeks to strengthen grassroots protection networks, enhance the capacity of defenders and minority groups, and foster collaboration between civil society and government bodies to ensure that vulnerable communities are safeguarded and heard.