Peace, Reconciliation and Human Rights

LWF Nepal assigns high priority in its programme to promoting peace and stability in rural communities and to enabling the marginalized communities to assert their rights. Its interventions are diverse and context-specific. LWF Nepal facilitates the formation and functioning of various refugee groups and forums, which have been mobilized for raising awareness about their rights, security and anti-social activities in the refugee camps in the eastern region. In the western region, it assists ex-Kamaiyas (freed bonded labourers), Haliyas, Dalits (“untouchable” caste) and other disadvantaged communities to raise their unheard voices and rights violation issues by holding day celebrations, rallies, interactions, meetings with government agencies and other duty bearers, and through media mobilization.

Community group members in adult literacy class. Most of them belong to a community that resorts to begging for livelihood.

Haliyas, another group of bonded labourers, are raising their voices for their rights through various channels.

The country is in a transition phase. Transition from war to peace, from an old political structure to a new one, from barbarity to peace and reconciliation, from autocracy to democratic practice, from exclusion to inclusion, from social discrimination to equity is a long process that demands patience and cooperation. However the scenario for peace, reconciliation and new Nepal is not yet clear.

Because of lack of education and awareness about rights, people are not able to raise or claim their rights in a proper way. Superstition, traditional culture, patriarchal and complex socio-cultural hierarchy and lack of good governance also pave the way for continuation of exploitation, oppression and rights violations.

With the aim of upholding the respect for Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other human rights instruments, LWF Nepal has initiated the Peace, Reconciliation and Human Rights (PRHR) project.

The priority themes of PRHR project are as follows:

Overall development goal: Displaced, marginalized, oppressed and vulnerable people empowered to enjoy their rights and live a peaceful and dignified life

Priority Theme 1: Empowering and capacitating community-based organisations and civil society organisations of the marginalized to claim and enjoy the rights

Priority theme 2: Sensitizing law-making and law-enforcing agents and lobbying in partnership to ensure people’s rights

Priority theme 3: Contributing to mitigating social, religious, economic and political conflicts

The project will serve as a connector between rights holders (through empowerment processes) and duty bearers (through a sensitization process) to narrow the gaps based on right to development and role of civil society. Furthermore, exploration of inner and interactive powers will enable disadvantaged people to claim and enjoy their rights.

Dalit Empowerment Programme (DEP)

Advocacy and Networking