Access to Justice: Creating local level, citizen action mediation bodies to ensure human rights

Women sitting in a circle The Centre for Victims of Torture (CVICT) in Nepal instituted a tactic to circumvent the problem of police abuse through a process of rights-based community mediation. This community mediation process was piloted in three districts of the country. CVICT adapted the general community mediation process to meet the specific needs of women through instituting Women’s Peace Committees. The tactic trains local people as mediators and resources to their communities on basic laws and human rights. In addition, it has served as a vehicle to empower women to become community leaders, addressing their individual and collective needs. The tactic can be especially helpful to those seeking to expand access to justice for people without other means of bringing complaints against the powerful and wealthy in their communities.