Sushil Pyakurel

Sushil Pyakurel is one Asia’s most recognised and awarded human rights and democracy defenders. He was closely involved in Nepal’s transformation from a feudal system with an absolute monarch in the 1980s to the democracy it is today.

Sushil’s contribution to human rights and democracy in Nepal and Asia more broadly were recognised with the Kwangju Human Rights Prize in 2010.

When Sushil participated in DTP’s second annual human rights and diplomacy training program in Sydney in 1992, he was already an experienced and effective advocate, having helped to move Nepal from being an absolute to constitutional monarchy.

However, Sushil says that his DTP training was instrumental in shaping his subsequent professional trajectory. He was unfamiliar with international human rights standards and mechanisms and the UN system, and how they could be used in advocacy. His training by DTP co-founder (now Timorese President), José Ramos Horta, inspired him and provided him with a knowledge and framework on how to navigate and leverage international platforms.

“DTP training does not merely discuss rights but delves into different methods for seeking justice, using available regional and international instruments. The training was pivotal for me to form my knowledge on how to use UN mechanisms and work with Special Rapporteurs. The training also highlighted the importance of international solidarity, opening my eyes to global struggles, especially in the Pacific region.”

Sushil’s exposure to issues beyond Nepal’s borders, such as the struggles of the Pacific nations, and the civil war and independence struggle in Bougainville expanded his horizons. They imbued him with a sense of international solidarity and the importance of networking, emphasising that regional challenges can find global solutions, that international tools can help to drive local change.

It also reinforced his belief that regional and global cooperation is essential for addressing local challenges.

Sushil’s remarkable contributions to human rights and democracy in Nepal span decades, and many different roles.

He was a founding member of Nepal’s first human rights NGO, the Forum for Protection of Human Rights (FOPHUR) and also of the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), with its focus on poverty and inequality as key human rights issues. They challenged traditional values around Dalits and “untouchability”. He played a pivotal role in establishing Nepal’s Human Rights Commission, and became its first Commissioner, and a leading member of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.

“During the formation of Nepal’s Human Rights Commission I used my knowledge on lobbying from the DTP training. I had to lobby parts of the Nepalese government who supported the formation of the human rights commission to overcome opponents within the government.”

He has been a powerful advocate against impunity, especially in the context of Nepal’s long civil war and aftermath. He was involved in establishing the Accountability Watch Committee, which seeks to address the issues of impunity and justice for victims.

In recognition of his knowledge and contributions to human rights, Sushil was appointed as human rights advisor to President Bidya Devi Bhandari. He subsequently returned to civil society, establishing a new Foundation that supports human rights and democracy.

This foundation focuses on integrating human rights with democracy, emphasising that one cannot exist without the other. Through the Foundation Sushil actively works with human rights activists, leveraging the networks and lessons from his DTP training to guide and support them.

Democracy is the backbone of human rights. Without a transparent democratic system, human rights implementation is challenging.

He continues to be a key member of South Asians for Human Rights, a key regional network of human rights defenders. His lifetime’s service in often dangerous and difficult circumstances is a testament to Sushil’s continuing determination to fight for what’s right.