Abigail Hunt, Policy & Advocacy Mananger, and Cintia Lavandera, Programmes Manager, travelled to Nepal to work with Womankind’s partners. Abigail Hunt reports back…
In 1996 civil war broke out in Nepal,
which ended with a peace agreement in 2006. Since the conflict Nepal
has seen a series of short-term coalition governments, and Nepali
politics has been characterised by long and difficult negotiations
between the main parties.
To date, no consensus has been reached on the content of a permanent
constitution to govern the country. An Interim Constitution is currently
in place, under which a Constituent Assembly
is charged with writing Nepal’s permanent constitution. Elections to a
second Constituent Assembly were held in November 2013, and political
leaders have pledged to draft a new constitution by February 2015.
A constitution is a country’s most import legal document, setting out
the basic structure of government and the relationship between the
government and its people. Besides establishing a government’s power, a
constitution also cites and protects the fundamental rights of the
people living in the country. Therefore agreeing a permanent
constitution is essential to lasting peace and democracy – and is an
urgent priority for the government, civil society and people of Nepal.
Womankind facilitates an advocacy workshop with FEDO, May 2014 (c) Womankind
Against this backdrop I travelled to Nepal last week to work with the Feminist Dalit Organisation
(FEDO), a Womankind partner since 2009. FEDO has a long experience of
working with community groups to ensure the political and public
participation of Dalit women in Nepal, who experience significant caste and gender-based discrimination.
With 10 months still to go until the Constituent Assembly approves
the new constitution, FEDO is determined to take part in the discussions
happening across the country so that Dalit women are not forgotten.
More precisely, FEDO wants to ensure that Dalit women’s right to full
participation in political and governance bodies is confirmed within the
text.
As a large network, with members in 56 of Nepal’s 75 Districts, FEDO
is in a strong position to make the voice of Dalit women heard. However
getting this voice listened to, and in the right places, is what counts.
Therefore whilst in Nepal Womankind facilitated a three-day advocacy
workshop to analyse the constitution-making process and plan alongside
FEDO how best to engage in it. During this time many passionate
discussions on the importance of Dalit women’s full and meaningful
participation in political and public life took place – with the new
constitution unanimously considered to be an important guarantor of
these rights.
For FEDO, the message is clear: a specific constitutional clause
stipulating Dalit women’s compulsory proportional representation in
Nepal’s political and public bodies is crucial. Without this, Dalit
women will continue to be excluded from the decision-making processes
which affect their lives, and their priorities overlooked by largely
disinterested policy-makers.
FEDO’s Executive Director, Bhim Bahadur B.K., said, “We believe that
constitutional and legal provisions are the best way to ensure Dalit
women’s representation in all structures of state affairs. This is why
we are working for Dalit women’s inclusion in the development and
implementation of the new constitution.”
Following the workshop I met with another Womankind partner organisation – Women for Human Rights
– to discuss their work supporting women’s economic empowerment in west
Nepal. Finally, just before leaving I attended a planning meeting on
the upcoming Beijing +20 review, organised by a coalition of Nepali women’s rights organisations and chaired by Womankind’s partner Saathi.
source:-Womankind
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