Strengthening the legal system in Nepal, 367-0150

The project comprises three separate programs of assistance - to the Supreme Court (SC), the Ministry of Law and Justice (MLJ), and the Nepal Women"s Organization (NWO). Publications support will be a major thrust. Assistance to the SC will support 5 activities: (1) publication of the most important precedential decisions of the SC and other Nepali courts for the years 1956-82 and of a supplement volume for 1983-84, along with funding to expand the "Kanun Patrika," in which selected current SC opinions are published monthly; (2) surveys in 10 to 15 District Courts to identify the most common causes of murder and of land and water rights disputes, in order to identify potential legal reforms in these areas; (3) upgrading of the SC library by training a full-time librarian and providing materials and furniture; (4) a short study tour in India for two SC legal researchers; and (5) a 4-week U.S. observation tour for 4 SC officials. In support of the MLJ, the project will procure an offset press system to allow increased publication of Nepali statutory and regulatory law. As a result, all volumes of current laws and regulations will be available throughout the country. In addition: (1) American legal materials, including the U.S. Code, relevant to statutory and regulatory drafting will be purchased for use as study materials; (2) research will be conducted in cooperation with the Ministries of Water Resources, and Panchayat and Local Development, in order to produce draft regulations or statutory changes to alleviate problems of water rights; and (3) two MLJ officials will take part in a U.S. observation tour. Assistance to the NWO will support extension (years 3-5) of its Women"s Legal Services Project aimed at providing free legal services to needy women, increasing awareness of women"s rights, and training paralegals. The Ford Foundation, which has funded the first 2 years, will remain principal donor. Major tasks during years 3-5 will be to open branches in Nepal"s eastern, middle western, and far western regions, completing regional coverage; to complete training of village women as paralegals, initiated in year 1; and to undertake a study of women in prison.