Nepal: ICITAP Helps Develop Law to Ensure Greater Police Accountability to All Nepalese

On August 18, ICITAP-Nepal Attaché Carl Risheim provided an update on ICITAP’s work in developing a new provincial police law. Over the past several months, ICITAP-Nepal has worked with a local Nepali Partner Niti Foundation to develop a new provincial police law that would transform policing in Nepal. The new draft law which was made consistent with the existing federal police laws, introduced provisions, including a police oversight commission, professional standards, transparency, accountability and responsibility, human rights principles, ensuring special attention and access of the marginalized populations such as women, children, senior citizens, LGBTQ and people with disabilities. The draft law was presented to a High-level committee consisting of the Chief Minister, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Chief Attorney, Principal Secretary, Vice-chair of the Policy and Planning Commission, and several secretaries and senior officials of the Provincial Government. After reviewing the draft Act the committee agreed to the new provisions and will move the draft law through the appropriate federal review process and parliamentary procedure to secure its passing. The Gandaki provincial government, perhaps the most forward-thinking province in the country, wishes to set the standards for the development of Provincial Police in the country. They have agreed to assist other provinces, and, with ICITAP’s support, will continue to provide technical assistance and training throughout the process. In Nepal, ICITAP works with the support of and in coordination with the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).