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Government of Nepal and UNDP sign US$ 2 million (Rs. 13.5 crores) project on enhancing access to justice

August 20, 2008

20 August, Kathmandu - The Government of Nepal and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today signed a US$ 2 million project entitled 'Enhancing Access to Justice through Legal and Judicial Reforms Project'. In the presence of the Chief Justice Mr Kedar Prasad Giri, Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nepal, Dr. Ram Krishna Timalsena signed the document on behalf of the Government of Nepal.

The new project seeks to improve;

• the capacity of justice sector institutions - formal as well as non-formal - to deliver justice,
  with particular emphasis on the needs of women and socially excluded groups,
  
• the capacity of the Nepalese people to seek justice with particular emphasis on women and
  excluded groups and
  
• the legislative framework so that it conforms to international human rights norms and the
  treaty obligations of the Government of Nepal.
  

Registrar of the Supreme Court, Dr. Ram Krishna Timalsena expressing his appreciation to UNDP for providing support to Nepalese judiciary in enhancing access to justice to poor and disadvantaged people said, "the project will further strengthen judiciary through capacity building of judges and other staffs and support to mediation."

UNDP Resident Representative, Robert Piper said, "In addition, the project will also work in combating gender based violence through research, legal aid, awareness campaign, policy advocacy and capacity building of police, lawyers, judges and other relevant stakeholders." The Project will be implemented by the Supreme Court in partnership with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Nepal Law Commission, the Attorney General?s Office, the Judicial Council, the Nepal Bar Association, the Tribhuvan University/ Law Faculty and other civil society organizations.

UNDP has been engaged in supporting the Government of Nepal in the area of legal and judicial reforms for enhancing access to justice since 2001. This project incorporates the lessons learned through previous UNDP justice programming i.e., Reform of the Judiciary, Strengthening the Rule of Law and Access to Justice Projects and gives greater attention to the rights and grievances of women, poor and socially excluded groups? emphasizing cooperation, coordination and collaboration with relevant actors including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nation?s Children Fund, the International Commission of Jurists, the European Union and the National Human Rights Commission.

For more information pls. contact Sangita Khadka, Development Communications Officer, UNDP Nepal 00-977-1-5523200 or sangita.khadka@undp.org