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back to homepage Some Highlights of the National Consultation of Women Human Rights Defenders - WOREC Nepal and NAWHRD
The 2008 consultation was indeed the year to celebrate 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration on Human Rights: Courage of Human Rights Activists and Human Rights for Women (--) Human Rights for All and women's resistance. This was also a space to commemorate Laxmi Bohara, an active Women Human Rights Defender who lost her life to Domestic Violence. She is the symbol of this movement and her contribution will always been remembered. With the theme to " Ensure the right to access justice and Guarantee Security of Women", the consultation saw an active participation of more than 300 Women Human Rights Defenders representing 70 districts working in different institutions, advocating for their rights and rights of other women, representing various issues such as dalit, disabled, slum dwellers, survivors of trafficking, living with HIV Aids, Sexual minorities, entertain sector ( informal sector)and advocating for various thematic sections such as indigenous, madhesis etc. The national consultation was on 29 - 30 November, 2008 and the half day session of 30 November was the first General Assembly of National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders. The Day 1 consultation was started with a 5 mins documentary on " the identity, the security, the recognition and the continuity of the movement of Women Human Rights Defenders." The documentary captured the movement of the Women Human Rights Defenders from 2005 where the country was trapped in the People's War however the Women Human Rights Defenders have played a pivotal role in the Peace Assemblies advocating for their role in the Peace Process and how ending Violence Against Women is a pre requisite for Sustainable Peace. Infact the documentary revealed the sucess and struggle of the movement that has seen transformation and changes in the political system. The other spectacular event was Honoring the 6 Women Human Rights Defenders who were injured during the 24 days movement of the Women Human Rights Defenders in June- August 2008. The lamp that were presented to the Defenders was a sign of honour and a symbol of the movement. This was also the space to share the " findings of the A research report on Challenges and Strategic Mechanisms for Women Human Rights Defenders in Nepal". This research was done in support from ISIS-Wicce, Liberia. This is the first research done on Women Human Rights Defenders in Nepal. The findings showed that married WHRDs were attacked against personhood and reputations. Threats, warnings, ultimatums and psychological harassment were the major violations It is evident that WHRDs have been mentally affected due to various forms of violations and the major form of violations is attack against personhood and reputations.The non-state actors were the largest number of perpetrators however women human rights defenders have faced violations from state actors. WHRDs were attacked on life, bodily and mental integrity by non-state actors and four of them by state actors. The consultation was also the culmination of the two consecutive trainings that were held before. The first one was on Non Violence Education Training and the other one was Security training. The outcome of both the trainings were shared and it was evident that though the due process of law is an important segment to access justice but there is a need to address emergency security measures that WHRDs need to access at the time of insecurity hence mechanisms were shared and a security work plan was developed. Likewise in the non violence education training, it was shared on how non violence practices in the world have given momentum to movement and that is one of the pre requisite for our movement. Another exciting segment of the consultation was the launch of Amnesty International Campaign on Women Human Rights Defenders: Vote for Rita Mahato by Yolanda Foster. Rita Mahato is an active Women Human Rights Defender from Siraha district who faced risks and vulnerabilities in 2007 for raising the issues of a person who was raped by the perpetrators. In doing so, Rita faced several forms of violence and at one point, she also committed suicide for not being able to take the pressure. Hence this was again the space to honour a Women Human Rights Defender setting an example that " They are honoured for their Courage and that they are not alone". There was another documentary shown on " what happens when women revolt". The word has been a bit controversial so it has been changed to what happens when takes actions however the focus is on 24 days movement and it is a documentary that shows an overview of the demand of Women Human Rights Defender, the rallies, the consultations, the hunger strike. In fact it is a series of event on the security of Women Human Rights Defenders, the recognition of Women Human Rights Defenders, the attitude of the state in the name of security etc. Five Women Human Rights Defenders then shared success stories on they managed to acces justice, access security mechanisms and advocating rights for other women. Cases were diverse and some shared their personal experiences as well. Infact a women from the disabled section managed to share her story through sign interpretation and requested everyone to respect them and respect their human rights. Tribunal: The second session was on Public Hearing: " Access to Justice and Security" where 4 jury members and 1 witness from the government agency were invited to the tribunal. Ten Women Human Rights Defenders shared their stories on the obstacle and challenges to access justice and security. The juries wrote down the hearings and then presented their verdict. The juries were Honourable Constituent Assembly member Nilambar Acharya, Human Rights Commissoner, Mr Gauri Pradhan, National Human Rights Commission, Women's Rights Activists and Economist, Dr. Meena Acharya. The witness was Mr. Ritu Raj Bhandari, Vice Secretary of the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare. Sadly, the Secretary of Ministry of Home and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction were not able to attend the event due to prior engagements. Some of the sections of the verdict are as follows: The full verdict will be circulated soon.
2. There should be security mechanism and support mechanism at Local level which should be accessible to the women facing violence. 3. Equal women's participation and representation at all state mechanism with Respect. 4. Awareness on the Economical, Social, Cultural Rights of Women. Women group, Networks should be strengthened for women rights. 5. State should guaranty for free legal assistance, free health services, counselling services and Security. 6. Equal Women's Representation should be there in the various Political Parties, Civil Societies and in NGOS/INGOS. 7. State should end Impunity .The Perpetuators of Violence against Women should be punished. Legal system should be gender sensitive and strong to increase the women's access to justice. 8. In order to protect the rights of women facing violence, State should work in coordination with the civil societies to provide the emergency services like Safe House. State should work strongly with the community based organizations as well to help the survivors of violence. 9. State should provide gender sensitive and human rights training to all the government officers. 10. There should be curriculum on Violence against Women for the school and college students. 11. Government should declare Violence free VDC, District in Nepal. Government should make terms of reference to declare Violence free VDC, District. 12. The decisions made by the Supreme Court, recommendations made by different Commissions should be implemented. 13. Nepal Human Right Commission (NHRC) should provide identity card to all Women Human Rights Defenders. 14. Police Officers should be given Human Rights Training and Gender Sensitivity Training. The afternoon session was a closed session that witnessed the first National Assembly of Women Human Rights Defenders. The session was attended by more than 150 Women Human Rights Defenders representing districts and movement such as Land Rights, Entertainment workers ( Informal Sector), Slum Dwellers etc. The Chief Guest: Honourable Minister of Industry Asta Laxmi Shakya stated that " Women's issues are not only the issues of Women but it should be the responsibility of the state to End Violence Against Women". She focused on the need for a strong unity amongst Women Human Rights Defenders, civil societies, Government for Women's Rights and emphasized on the need of the implementation of the recommendations of the High Level Task Force that was formed after the 24 days movement. Ms. Dhan Kumari Sunar from National Women's Commission expressed that though Nepal has ratified various International Conventions, we are still weak to implement it. Ms. Janaki Baral of Dalit Commission expressed that the need to strengthen structures, access to resources to advocate for the rights of dalit and dalit women. The Europeon Representative and Her Excellency the Ambassador of the Embassy of Germany stressed on the implementation of the Europeon Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Yolanda Foster of Amnesty International expressed that the promotion and protection of human rights of all by Women Human Rights Defenders is a respectful work and there should be an enabling and safe environment for Women Human Rights Defenders to work. Ms. Anna Maria from the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights shared that on the need of strong legal mechanisms to implement the laws and that her office will support the movement of Women Human Rights Defenders. Dr. Renu Rajbhandari, Chairperson of WOREC Nepal and Coordinator of National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders shared that this is the year to celebrate two important events; a) UDHR 60 years and b) 10 years UNHRD Declaration however Women Human Rights Defenders are facing Violence in different degrees and it is a heinous crime. The state should be accountable to provide support mechanisms for Women Human Rights Defenders. She also stressed on the need to amend the laws that are discriminatory towards Women.
Day Two The morning session was convened by Ms. Prabina Shakya, Human Rights Officer of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights ( OHCHR) focused on the international Human Rights Mechanisms that Women Human Rights Defenders can access in terms of access to justice in the transitional phase. She also stressed that state is the sole responsibility body that perpetrators should be brought to justice through lawful means ending the culture of impunity. Unfortunately none of the officers from the National Human Rights Commission were able to present on this session due to their prior engagements. This was a space for the Women Human Rights to engaged directly with the two human rights organization that have played an active role to document human rights violations, support due process of law etc.
Closing Session: It was a moment to celebrate the First National Assembly of Women Human Rights Defenders. 2008 national consultation focused on the security of Women Human Rights Defenders. This was an important space to get major stakeholders and engage in direct communication with the Women Human Rights Defenders. It has been realized that the right to access information and to disseminate information is one of the major issue that needs to be worked thoroughly. The information on the Europeon Guidelines, The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, The Europen Union strategy etc were well disseminated amongst the Women Human Rights Defenders. The security training that was organized with Protection Desk Nepal has assisted the Women Human Rights Defenders on issues of security and their access to justice.
Some of the Major highlights that should be focused for 2009: a) Safe Houses for Women Human Rights Defenders; b) Security Mechanisms and Support Mechanisms at local levels; c) Dissemination of information on EU guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders in local languages; d) Identity card for Women Human Rights Defenders to be given from the National Human Rights Commission; e) Understanding of the international Declarations and Conventions on Rights of Women and using the Special procedures and Mechanisms to access UNSR VAW and UNSRSG HRDs; f) End to the culture of Impunity; g) Police Officers should be given Human Rights Training and Gender Sensitive Training; h) Capacity building of Women Human Rights Defenders i) Need for multi stake holder dialogues
The final verdict and the Signature Campaign will be Submitted to the Prime Minister Puspa kamal Dahal (Prachanda ) on 10 December which is also the International Human Rights Day. In addition to these events, rallies were organized and thematic discussions were held every day after the events. A full report with the verdict will soon be posted.
WOREC Nepal/NAWHRDS |