Nepal: From child soldier to human rights defender

Alongside thousands of others, Lenin Bista was recruited into the Maoist guerrilla when he was 12 years old, during the Nepalese civil war between 1996 and 2006. Trained in weapons handling and intelligence techniques, he was involved in military operations during the conflict. When the war came to an end, he remained confined for four years before being liberated. Since then, he has devoted his efforts to advancing the cause of his former comrades. With his organization Peace Envisioners he is fighting to ensure that former Nepalese child soldiers have access to redress. With the support of TRIAL International, he has submitted a report to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva to draw the UN body’s attention to the situation of these particularly vulnerable former combatants.