Establishment and Inauguration of Victims/Witness Friendly Room in District Court

To create a safe environment for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence – free from perpetrators’ threats or others’ manipulation, and also from public scrutiny – allowing the survivors to deliver valid testimony, a victim/witness protection room was established in the district courts of 3 project districts- Makwanpur, Kavrepalanchowk and Kathmandu in coordination with the Supreme Court and the concerned District Courts. The inauguration of the victims/witness protection room in Makwanpur was held on March 15, 2016 by the District Court Judge honorable Krishna Ram Koirala and Ms. Reshma Thapa, Democracy and Governance Specialist of USAID. Likewise, in Kathmandu the inaugural took place on March 25, 2016 by the District Court Judge Honorable Achyut Bista and Ms. Maria Barrón, Director of Democracy and Governance Office, USAID. Similarly, in Kavrepalanchowk Apellate Court Judge Honorable Til Prasad Shrestha and Ms. Maria Barrón, Director of Democracy and Governance Office, USAID jointly inaugurated the victim/witness protection room on April 1, 2016. Establishing such room is an initiation to address challenges that deprive survivors of human trafficking and gender based violence (GBV) of basic human rights – such as access to justice and will help create an enabling environment for survivors/victims to confidently engage in judicial processes while reducing the instances of withdrawal or changes to testimony during the prosecution due to undue influence, fear or hostility.