Asia : August 2007

Act in Solidarity to Understand the Realities of Nepalese Women

Nepal has undergone a truly revolutionary process in the last year. In April 2006, a popular movement that brought together a whole spectrum of political parties, movements, civil society organizations and the general public, broke down the Monarchy’s absolute hold on power and forced the restoration of democracy.

This movement also set the stage for the signing of a peace accord to end the 11 year insurgency fought by the Maoists. The peace accords have promised to create the conditions for a New Nepal, a Nepal that is more inclusive of the people of all castes, ethnicities, religions and gender.

One year later, a lot of progress has been made to this effect. However, many challenges remain and new challenges have also risen. Elections at the constituent assembly are scheduled for November 22, 2007.
Different excluded groups are strongly advocating for their inclusion in this process, and the government, dominated by men from the Brahmin cast, has been forced to listen to them. 

More Info: Report of the Secretary-General on the request of Nepal for United Nations assistance in support of its peace process

Indigenous and low caste (Dalit) women in Nepal suffer greatly from inequality, and face multiple forms of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, language, and culture. Geographical remoteness, conflict, and social exclusion make women very vulnerable to poverty and violence. However, in development programmes or projects in Nepal that specifically target women, it is mostly women from higher castes who benefit. Indigenous and Dalit people’s issues are rarely properly taken into account in development programmes/projects. There is a lack of information about their situation and they are rarely represented on project planning teams. Furthermore, these groups are poorly organised and do not have the capacity nor the resources to effectively advocate for their own needs.

In the current context of Nepal many excluded groups are now gathering strength and demanding inclusion into the political mainstream. But often this movement does not reach the remote communities, and the inclusion of women in this dialogue is still limited. For women of these remote mountainous areas, the journey to empowerment is difficult and often the first step is recognition of their own value, worth and needs. The second step is to be able to communicate these issues to a broader audience.

Read on CECI's actions in Asia

Read on Sahakarya project