DIHR in Nepal
After receiving an invitation from the Danish Embassy in Kathmandu, the Danish Institute for Human Rights started its engagement in Nepal in 1996. The first activity carried out by DIHR was an analysis of the Nepalese criminal justice system in 1997. The findings paved the way for specific project activities directed at the judicial sector during the following years. In an unconnected project, which also commenced in 1997, DIHR collaborated with the Informal Sector Service Centre with the aim of combating forced child agriculture labor. Within DIHR’s international strategy, Nepal has been ranked as a 'medium priority' country.
DIHR has concentrated its activities within two main thematic areas in Nepal: The Access to Justice initiatives include partnership with the local NGO, Center for Legal Research and Resource Development, offering free legal aid to people suspected of of serious crimes, and DIHR participation in a joint donor cooperation with the recently established National Human Rights Commission. Cooperating with the Commission, the DIHR brings in expertise by building up capacity in local reporting skills to assist the monitoring of the UN human rights treaties. Moreover, Nepal forms part of DIHR’s cross-regional juvenile justice programme. The other major engagement, now concluded, was with the Informal Sector Service Centre where teaching materials were prepared and teaching was conducted in selected districts to raise awareness and combat the extensive use of children as forced agricultural labour.