2.2 National and International Laws Related to Crime Victims

National framework (Nepal) 1. The Constitution: Article 21 — victims of crime have the right to information on investigation and proceedings, social rehabilitation, and compensation; Article 20 (justice's guarantees — fair hearing, legal aid); Article 22 (torture's absolute bar with compensation). 2. The Muluki Criminal Code 2074 and the Muluki Criminal Procedure Code 2074: the victim as the case's initiator (FIR/complaint), victim compensation through the court's award framework, and the reconciliation (melmilap) scheme for compoundable offences. 3. Special statutes: the Domestic Violence (Offence and Punishment) Act 2066 (protection orders, interim relief, compensation); the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 (victim rescue, rehabilitation, compensation from the offender); the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 2056; caste-discrimination provisions (Article 24's constitutional bar with compensation). 4. Relief machinery: the victim relief funds operated by the state (the Home Ministry's relief scheme for victims of violence, including gender-based violence), and the compensation practice built on the procedural framework. 5. Human rights bodies: NHRC's recommendations for victims of violations (reparation practice); the CDO and local protection mechanisms. International framework 1. UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims (1985): the four pillars — access to justice and fair treatment; restitution from offenders; compensation by the state when compensation is not fully available from the offender; assistance (services, support). 2. Convention against Transnational Organized…