Challenges in Accessing Compensation for Sexual Violence Survivors in South Asia

The Justice Access Campaign in South Asia has released a comprehensive study report on the accessibility of compensation for sexual violence survivors across six South Asian countries, including Nepal. Dated July 22, Kathmandu, the report was launched simultaneously across Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives by a South Asian network called the Justice Inclusive Campaign.

Conducted by a regional social network comprising 27 member organizations, the study critically analyzes the status of compensation, legal frameworks, and access to justice for survivors of sexual violence across the region. It provides a high-level review of the compensation systems, legal provisions, and practical implementation available to survivors in Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The study concludes that significant challenges remain for survivors in accessing justice and compensation throughout most South Asian countries.

According to the report, Nepal’s Victim Protection Act, 2018 (2075 BS), offers one of the most organized and robust legal structures for safeguarding victims’ rights in South Asia. However, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence still face considerable barriers in accessing effective reparation. The study identifies Nepal as one of two countries demonstrating exemplary practices in protecting the rights of sexual violence survivors, offering lessons that other nations in the region could adopt.

Ultimately, the report calls on South Asian governments, donor agencies, and civil society organizations to take decisive steps toward implementing efficient and swift compensation mechanisms for survivors of sexual violence. It specifically urges the establishment of national compensation funds directly linked to survivors in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Maldives, irrespective of whether the offender has been criminally convicted. This approach is intended to remove the obligation for survivors to wait for proof of guilt, thereby enabling timely relief and compensation.