In 1996, six years after Nepal replaced its absolute monarchy with multi-party democracy, Maoist rebels launched an armed struggle that led to an estimated 13,000 deaths over the next decade. In November 2006 the rebels and government made peace, paving the way for the abolition of the monarchy. A Maoist-led government took power after national elections in 2008. Nepal now faces steep challenges in establishing truth, justice and accountability for past human rights violations.
