About Nepal Law Society

The Nepal Law Society (NLS) was established in 1982 by a group of like-minded legal professionals including judges, legal practitioners as well as professors. The Society is an independent non-governmental organization committed to the rule of law, human rights, women empowerment, local governance and decentralization. When it came into being, Nepal was in a closed system without democratic rights. It was felt that there was a need for a professional organization to study and take the country’s judicial as well as legal sector on a path towards modernization. Its short-term objective, then, was how to make the judiciary sector people-friendly at a time when the country did not enjoy political freedom. Its major objectives were to help consolidate the rule of law even as it studied the global scenario and worked towards updating the country’s constitution as well as human rights laws. After the restoration of democracy in 1990, the NLS worked as a key think-tank on constitutional, legal and judicial issues providing major inputs in the drafting of not only various laws and rules but also the Constitution. During the period of constitution making, the NLS was extensively involved in supporting the constitution process, citizen awareness, public opinion collection and formulation of model constitution. It also operated Constitution Information Centers to act as bridge between the constitution drafters and the general public. After the promulgation of the constitution, the NLS has converted the centers into Civic Initiative Centers to work at province levels in all seven provinces to provide empowerment programs on law making process and justice delivery at province and local level. Apart from constitutional development, the NLS has also been involved in supporting the election process. In partnership with other organizations, the NLS has led the observation of four parliamentary, three local, one provincial and two Constituent Assembly elections and submitted reports along with recommendations to improve the election processes in the coming days.