Many of the victims of sexual assault during the Maoist insurgency have not filed their complaints at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) for fear of social stigma, lack of evidence and also because they do not believe their complaints will be addressed by the government.

Despite estimates of several thousand cases, initial assessment of the complaints filed in both the TRC and the CIEDP shows very few registered cases, according to officials. 

“We can’t give the exact numbers at the moment as we have not been able to go through all the complaints but the reason behind extending the deadline for complaints registration was to give victims who are still in a dilemma time to make up their mind and approach us,” said Madhavi Bhatta, a member of the TRC.

Sima Karki (name changed) of Surkhet was detained at the regional barracks of the Army for 32 days and raped for most part of her unpleasant stay there 16 years ago. In order to flee the social stigma of rape and to find a suitable groom for her, her family migrated to the Capital. The mother of two in her late thirties is not ready to jeopardise her family life by opening up old wounds she has hidden from her new family.

“My in-laws do not know that I was raped during the conflict. I have always tried to hide that brutal incident [rape] from them as ours is a conservative family and I am sure they will end all their relations with me, including separating my children,” said Karki.

Karki added that she would not take the risk with just a slight chance of the perpetrators being put behind the bars at the expense of being cast off her family.

Both former Maoist rebels and security forces have been accused of committing sexual violence against women and girls.

Rights activists argue that the government is not doing enough to reach out to the victims of sexual assault. Stigma of sexual violence remains with the victim lifelong in a conservative society like ours and often times the victims try to hide the incident to avoid the disrepute associated with it.

• Fear of social stigma
• Lack of evidence
• No belief complaints will be addressed

Sexual and gender-based violence had escalated with both the then rebel force and the state parties committing the grave crime. These incidents have affected the victims physically and mentally, and hit their dignity, security, justice, peace, and human rights not only during the conflict but also in the post-conflict era. 

“Unlike others, victims of sexual violence are not going to come forward just because the government has asked them to. If the government is serious about delivering justice to them, it has to create an environment where they feel protected enough to reopen old wounds and also be assured of financial support in case bringing up past cases weakens them economically and psychologically,” said Renu Rajbhandari Adhikari, president of the Women Rehabilitation Centre. 

She claims that measures like medico-psychological counselling, reparations and sustainable livelihood support to survivors of conflict-era sexual violence will be able to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Parbati Tharu of Saptari, who had been arrested by the Army on May 5, 2005 and detained illegally on the charge of being a rebel, was for a month blindfolded and sexually assaulted and severely wounded by the security personnel.

“I have spoken about the torture at many forums and filled many papers describing my experience but nothing has happened till date. I don’t think anything is going to happen this time either,” said Tharu.

Tharu, 50, adds that her being single and independent gives her confidence to speak about the brutal ordeal. “Women with family and economically dependent on male members will not find it easy to make their suffering public even if 

justice is assured, which in our case is not.” Tharu earns her living by running a grocery shop.