Nepal’s seven-year peace process between government forces and Maoist combatants remains in limbo, and human rights commitments undertaken in the peace accord’s remained unfulfilled. Impunity for wartime abuses is the norm, and although the government advocates for establishing a truth and reconciliation commission, it has promoted government officials and security force members suspected of involvement in human rights abuses. This political turmoil, along with weak governance, lack of rule of law, corruption, and impunity, have all contributed to ongoing political instability and problems with law and order.

The study described both positive (a few) and negative trends and details attacks against WHRDs as follows:

“Nepalese WHRDs such as Shyam Sah, chairperson of the NGO Mukti Nepal and recipient of the 2012 Human Rights price by the Embassy of France in Nepal for the cause of women’s rights, working on issues including witchcraft accusation, domestic violence, rape, dowry demands and polygamy, has acknowledged that WHRDs have stepped forward to protect women’s rights because of a lack of trust in the police. Most threats to WHRD’s work come from families, communities and illegal armed actors that may be linked to police. When Sah intervened in a polygamous marriage she was attacked in full view of the police.

BimalaTamang, treasurer of the National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD), a WHRDs defending housing rights, received threats and was forced into hiding after protesting actions allegedly taken by the Government of Nepal to forcibly evict almost 8,000 persons living on the banks of the Bagmati River without effective consultation with affected communities, and with no offer of alternative accommodation.

In 2012, while defending a case of divorce for domestic violence, the leading women’s rights organizations WOREC Nepal and Mitini Nepal and their staff members received threatening phone calls and visits to their premises, by the police, the husband and relatives of the victim, causing concern for the safety of the victim and those protecting her. According to Rajbhandari, the husband attacked a WOREC team member and the police did not intervene, instead they asked why WOREC was supporting this case.

WHRDs at the grassroots level, who mainly work to defend women from violence, do not receive public recognition and face constant threats from perpetrators, including, society in general and local political parties, mainly led by men. Perpetrators of violence against WHRDs oppose the work of WHRDs, who are constantly pressurising the government to act and end impunity. Although WHRDs have been successful in bringing justice, and there is some recognition of their work, they are seen as “problem creators” or “trouble makers” according to Rajbhandari.”

The paper lists a number of other serious papers as source.