Upload
jacob-boys
View
217
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Women in Peace Building Process in Nepal and quest for Proportional Representation
Presentation for University of Calcutta on
Women’s Political Empowerment: Quotas or not?
Feb, 17-18, 2011
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
OUTLINEBackground…
Women’s involvement during Nepal’s Conflict Period (1996-2006)
Women’s involvement in the People’s Movement (2006)Women’s involvement in Overturning fudal monarchy and
mobilizing for the Constituent Assembly for equal and meaningful participation at all levels
Demand for proportional representation and minimum 33% participation as strategy
Now… Women advocating for change, using UN Security Council
Resolution 1325 Some current advocacy for equal representation through
peace building initiatives by women in Nepal
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
The Context….Nepal is a diverse country with different
ethnic minorities, caste groups, religious communities, linguistic traditions All spread across a small but geographically varied landscape (mountains, hilly region and
plains/terai)
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Nepal’s Ten Year Conflict Had Deep Roots…
240 years of feudal monarchy / strong petriarchy
Institutionalised /systemic social exclusion and marginalization
Many people sacrificed their lives, and women were highly affected as survivors & victims
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
During the Conflict Period, There Were Also Some Positive Changes for Women…During the conflict period, women assumed new non
traditional roles, for example...Household decision making; Changed Economic role/ Borrowing money;Direct interaction with market/Selling family
produce, and engaging in other types of wage labour;
Organizing & participating in religious ceremonies;Infrastructure / construction/ Fixing their houses;Ploughing the land;Ownership and transaction of land;Community leadership and 20% mandatory at
local governance;Leadership in the Maoist movement;Jobs in the national army
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Important Social Impacts Resulted…The changes during the conflict resulted in
Challenge to patriarchal traditions and attitudes towards women
A greater degree of respect by the male relatives
Increased self-confidence, a sense of empowerment and of self-reliance
The development of a reservation/quota system to increase the number of women at the policy level
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Yet, These Years Also Brought Devastation
to Women’s Lives…
Assumed overwhelming burdens for their families and communities
Experienced displacement and forced migration, as entire families were uprooted from their homes
Lowered economic conditionsLost/Missing family members Widows had to wait at least 12 years to
legally own land/ enjoy right to family property
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Devastating Effects of the Conflict (Cont.)
Also, during the conflict women were affected by: Increased family pressures and tension Increasingly subjected to domestic violence and rapeSuffered from depression due the traumas related to
violence Increased insecurity--living in fear of being kidnapped,
tortured, raped or beaten Limited Access to medicines and health care
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
In the People’s Movement 2006, Women Also Mobilized for Change…
After the conflict, historically excluded groups remained impoverished
They became vocal, questioning socio-economic inequalities
Mobilizing within the movement, women were able to successfully advocate for 33% participation in the new parliamentary structures
Despite of these efforts, still women’s voice still remain marginalized in the peace building process
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Women Mobilization for the Constituent Assembly (CA)
Women took on a leading role…To overturn the feudal monarchy that lasted 240 yearsOrganizing rallies to push for rights to equal participationBuilding alliances for democracy, nationally and locallyRaising our voices to call for the implementation of a
reservation system and for women's rights to be respectedConducting trainings and raising the public’s awareness
about the CAResults of these efforts:
191 women were elected to the CA;Marginalized women’s concerns are now
receiving more attention
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Women Using UNSCR 1325 as a tool First, what is UNSCR 1325?A binding international law, adopted in 2000 by the UN Security
CouncilIt commits governments—including that of Nepal—to:
Increase representation of women at all decision-making levels
Take special measures to protect women and girls from gender based violence and other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict.
Incorporate a gender perspective into UN operations Incorporate a gender perspective into post-conflict
processes (including processes of disarmament, resettlement, reintegration, reconstruction,
reparation) Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Women’s Peacebuilding Efforts in NepalWomen activists are:
Using theatre & illustrated cartoons to outreach across Nepal on SCR 1325
Organizing local women’s peace committees across the country
Mobilizing for our participation in the CA and local peace committees, voicing concerns about social inclusion (by using principles contained in UNSCR 1325)
Supporting Nepal’s Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction to prepare a National Action Plan on the implementation of UNSCR 1325
Forming a number of alliances to work together
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Women’s Peacebuilding Efforts (Cont.)Napali women have learned together as groups,
alliances and networks for example....Women's Alliance for Peace, Power, Democracy and
Constituent Assembly WAPPDCA. Shanti Malika are the examples of alliance of
Women’s NGOs working for the implementation of UN SCR 1325, in partnership with UN agencies and others...
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Women’s Peacebuilding Efforts (Cont.)Together, we are calling for:
Equal representation of women at all government levels and in all committees related to
conflict prevention and resolutionAt least 33% of women members in the Local Peace
Committees (This must be required in Terms of Reference, as currently women remain marginalized, being allocated less
than 10% of the seats)An end to ongoing impunity for perpetrators of violence
against women, with particular respect to those from marginalized castes and ethnicities.
Women’s human rights to be addressed by the Constitutional Assembly, electoral system, police and judiciary
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini
Women’s Recommendations for
Transition in NepalTranslation of UN SCR 1325 into local languages &
wide dissemination, proper implementation of NAPMeaningful participation in ongoing peace process
and negotiationsEqual involvement of women in the design and
proceedings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
Special women’s hearings during the TRCAdoption of gender specific models of reparations Recognition of women candidates for UN posts,
envoys, and ambassadorsGender and social inclusion sensitivity training for
security forces of Nepal
Presented by Saloni Singh, Exe. Chair, DidiBahini