Who are We?

Advocacy Forum (AF) is a leading non-profit, non-governmental organization working to promote the rule of law and uphold international human rights standards in Nepal. Since its establishment in 2001, AF has been at the forefront of human rights advocacy and actively confronting the deeply entrenched culture of impunity in Nepal.

What We Do

We provide free legal aid and counseling to detainees and victims of human rights violations.

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Cases

We put our utmost effort in ensuring justice prevails for every case we represent.

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Donate

Your contribution can inspire us to fight impunity, stop torture and reform the justice system. Please make a donation to help us defend human rights.

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Advocacy Forum Latest News

Stay informed, stay inspired – explore our latest stories of impact and advocacy

26 May, 2025

Orientation against Drug Abuse at Jayendu Child Reform Home

24 May, 2025

AF-organized National Workshop Calls for Urgent Reforms in Nepal’s Juvenile Justice System

9 May, 2025

Three-Month English Training Launched for Juveniles in Banke CRH

Statements

Innovating progress and sharing stories that matter, our press statements resonate with the pulse of transformative initiatives

Conflict Victims Urge the Prime Minister to Dismiss Flawed Commissions, End Impunity, and Ensure a Victim-Centric Approach to Justice

23 April, 2026

Press release : Human Rights Organizations Demand Justice, Accountability, and an End to Impunity in Nepal

24 March, 2026

Press release : Human Rights Organizations Demand Justice, Accountability, and an End to Impunity in Nepal (Nepali Version)

24 March, 2026

Accountability Watch Committee (AWC) Press Statement: An Appeal to Political Parties to Commit to Transitional Justice in Election Manifestos

2 February, 2026

AWC Issues Press Statement Demanding Withdrawal of Case Dismissals under Charge Amendment, Citing Concerns over Judicial Independence, Rule of Law, and Accountability (Nepali Version)

19 January, 2026

Advocacy Forum-Nepal: Government Needs to Overhaul Transitional Justice Bodies to Break Impunity (English Version)

21 November, 2025

Initiatives

Empowering communities through sustainable initiatives for positive social impact

Advocacy Forum reports urgent cases of human rights violations to UN-OHCHR, AHRC and to some specific organizations such as Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, OMCT, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, diplomatic communities, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution and the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances. These international organizations/bodies give due importance to our communications and have been regularly issuing urgent appeals to pressure the concerned authorities and the government. AF also regularly reports cases to Human Rights Cell of Nepal Police, Office of Attorney General and National Human Rights Commission requesting investigation and necessary action against the perpetrators and timely redress to victims.

Important judicial rulings by courts in the cases represented by AF on behalf of victims have been instrumental in establishing case law in Nepal. The efforts of AF have been immensely important in setting standards vis-à-vis the cases of human rights violations and ensuring fair trial standards in Nepal and thereby creating a solid body of jurisprudence. AF also files Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking various directive orders for the implementation of existing legal provisions and challenging those provisions that expressly contradict with the accepted international standards.

Advocacy Forum works to influence the Nepali government's policies and laws by holding regular lobby meetings with lawmakers, officials from ministries concerned, members of the civil society and other relevant stakeholders. Via various activities, campaigns and submissions, it also tries to lobby both national and international bodies to ensure human rights are upheld. It has also been continuously seeking to establish strong lines of communication and effective working partnerships with the international and domestic human rights community. AF recognizes the necessity of international co-operation in overturning the culture of impunity that sustains a climate conducive to human rights abuse in Nepal.

AF has developed a comprehensive framework to strengthen capacities of its staffers, stakeholders, institutions, communities and target groups for the effective realization of its vision, mission and goals. The framework is set at the systemic, institutional and individual levels. Key areas that require capacity building are identified as per the needs of relevant stakeholders or when AF feels necessary during the implementation of its various activities. AF is also committed to increasing its functionality by supplementing the expertise of staff wherever possible, both by educational workshops and by exposure to the international human rights community.