1. Context The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nepal was established in 2000 under the Human Rights Commission Act, 1997. The Act was promulgated as a result of demand of political actors and entities, civil society, NGO community, professional organizations and academia. The Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 elevated the Commission to a constitutional entity broadening its mandate to ensure respect, protection and promotion of human rights in the country. Under the constitutional mandate NHRC, has power to receive complaints, investigate upon them and to recommend for compensation to the victims or their kin followed by prosecution or departmental actions to the perpetrators. In addition, NHRC would carry out monitoring of human rights situation specified by the constitution and national laws, international human rights instruments and the Comprehensive Peace Accord, 2006. The NHRC frequently involves in dialogue, advocacy, campaigning, lobbying, and other similar nature of activities for the promotion and protection of human rights. Likewise, NHRC organizes training and education programs, carries out research, publishes and disseminates the reports and information, education and communication (IEC) materials and make them public. From its early days, NHRC has been following the planning process with a view to achieve expected results applying proper strategies within specified timeframe. This planning document therefore has been developed as a guiding tool primarily to give effect to NHRC mandates in the planned and systematic way in order to ensure success of the organizational activities. 2. Institutional Profile The NHRC performs its activities through the central office, regional offices and sub-regional offices established in different locations across the country. The NHRC has a general policy of decentralization aiming to increase access to human rights services expanding its outreach programs in the field. Currently, there is central office, five regional offices and three sub-regional offices. Regional offices were established when the human rights violation was severe during the armed conflict. Sub-regional offices initially established as contact offices were promoted to this status. And one of the sub-regional offices, Janakpur was elevated to regional status. Thus, the regional offices were established six years ago followed by three subregional offices three years ago. The NHRC has a plan to establish more three subregional offices in this planning period. In addition to its offices, thematic special 1