Devi

Nepal's Civil War ended in 2006, but not for Devi; rebel warrior, mother and sexual violence survivor. As those in power try to erase rape from the history of the war, Devi has to battle her own demons before she can begin to build a movement to fight for justice.

In August 2024 Devi Khadka finally saw Nepal's government pass a key law on Conflict Related Sexual Violence. It is the change we see her fighting for in our award-winning documentary, Devi. It's the first time since Nepal's civil war ended in 2006 that the government has officially recognised the suffering of women during the violence. And it enables historic rapes and sexual violence to be addressed. Since the beginning of this year thousands of women have come forward to meet Devi Khadka, hundreds have formally record their testimonies, seeking recognition, justice and reparation. 

Devi Khadka puts a lot of the success down to the process of making Devi, and the support director, Subina Shrestha, has given her over the years.

“The documentary has played a decisive role in my battle with myself”

https://fb.watch/vTrENL09Un/ 

Devi has many lessons for leaders and activists in current and post-conflict countries around the world and those with influence over them. The story also reveals the power of documentary as a catalyst for change - which we feel is so important for the industry as a whole right now.

When we began there were 314 CRSV war crime testimonies on record in Nepal following its civil war where one third of the Maoist rebel fighters were women. Those files were locked, and remained unopened; and survivors were effectively erased. 

Devi Khadka has already helped change the law for survivors for wartime rape and sexual violence in Nepal. In August 2024, Nepal ratified amendments to its post civil war Truth and Reconciliation act. Now, for the first time in decades, there is path for wartime rape survivors for reparation and justice. 

Real impact success for Devi means contributing to a world in which victims of sexual violence can pursue justice against their attackers confident that society and systems will support them.

We believe the film can play a role in shifting that thinking in the right direction. The film is continuing its effort to demand accountability in Nepal; screenings with women across the country has led to the registration of 1000 new testimonies.  But also aims to develop a global solidarity for wartime rape survivors whose stories are still being suppressed by those in power.

To date the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) still has just 314 cases officially registered. A new commission is yet to be opened to enable the registration of further testimonies.

Since our film team began supporting Devi the number of women who have come forward to register their cases with her team has risen to 1000. It was slow and painful work, as documented in the film. But since we began documentary screenings the numbers just keep rising. 

GOING FORWARD

In Nepal - we want to be sure that the law is implemented and is not just a press release.

• Since the film premiered in April, the Devi film team, along with Aparjit - The Undefeated, has been screening Devi across Nepal to groups of survivors. A thousand survivors have recorded their testimonies with Aparajit. 
• New aim - screen this film within Nepal on general release in cinemas across all seven provinces for a limited time, with accompanying television and media coverage of the story. 
• We expect thousands more will register their testimonies with Aparajit. All of those documents will eventually be a part of the state’s registration process. 

Post-conflict nations

• When Devi spoke in The Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict conference in the UK in November 2022, participants from many countries identified with her experiences. 
• New aim -  To raise funds to screen the film in five post-conflict countries, with Devi as a participant, and have meaningful discussions with decision-makers & influencers there in order to bolster other survivors to organise, demand accountability and help foster a global solidarity amongst survivors. 

Global West

• A limited theatrical release for policy makers and decision makers in the global west in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and Switzerland. The targeted release would be in countries with active policies for gender mainstreaming and reducing wartime rape and sexual violence.