The Asia-level Regional Conference on Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities was held in Kathmandu for the first time. The conference held on May 11 and 12, 2024 was attended by disability rights activists, stakeholders, UN Women, UNCRPD committee members, and ICJ international expert groups from 15 Asian countries.

The two-day conference was organized in partnership with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Transforming Communities for Inclusion (TCI), KOSHISH, and the Nepal Disabled Women Association NDWA.

The conference was inaugurated by the chief guest, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr Kalyan Shrestha. On that occasion, female artists with four types of disabilities performed an inclusive welcome dance.

Rights activists from Nepal, experts, civil societies, journalists, parents, and stakeholders actively participated in the conference.  There were four thematic sessions were organized on various topics. In this session, former Chief Justice, former Attorney General Hari Phuyal, and other advocates shared their experiences about inclusive and excellent decisions they made in the justice field.

Seventy people participated in the conference from the leading activists at Nepal’s provincial and national levels and internationally. Similarly, the former Chief Justice of India Indira Banerjee, the Sri Lankan Supreme Court Justice Mr. Murdu Nirupa Vidusini Fernando, the Supreme Court, Thailand’s Mr. Thanyanuch Tantikul- President’s Office Judge shared the challenges they have faced in the decisions and procedures for the person with disabilities in their respective countries and the regions.

At the end of the program, a declaration was issued agreeing on the points to be done for access to justice in the coming days.