Security and justice in Nepal: District assessment findings

This report investigates the security- and justice-related experiences and perceptions of people living in six districts in Nepal affected by insecurity and weak governance.

The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 21 November 2006 ended a decade of fighting between the then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPNMaoist) and the Government of Nepal. This provided an opportunity for security and justice providers in the country to refocus on meeting the needs of all Nepal’s citizens. However, ongoing and emerging security challenges and a lack of resources have hampered the establishment of accountable, affordable and accessible security and justice sector institutions.

People continue to feel insecure, although the causes of this insecurity differ from group to group, geographically and depending on people’s gender and economic status. At the same time, there are clear opportunities for effective donor support to the sectors to assist Nepalis in building up their security and justice sector institutions, and thus improving the real and perceived safety and security of the population. 

This report investigates the experiences and perceptions of people living in six districts in Nepal, representing geographically, ethnically and economically diverse communities: Banke, Jumla, Kailali, Nawalparasi, Siraha and Sunsari. It focuses on the concerns of particular groups, including women, youth, marginalised ethnic, caste and religious communities, and security service providers. Some of the problems highlighted by this report are specific to certain groups, while others are  more generally shared.