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Civil Peace Conference

In January 2007, the Forum for Human Rights, Environment and People's Awareness (HUREP) brought together local people, government and non-governmental officials, journalists and other stakeholders to discuss the impact of the conflict in Sankhuwa Sabha district. The participants of the conference produced and published a Peace Declaration on how to promote peace and democracy in the area.

Description

Over the last 12 years of the Maoist conflict, local people have suffered in various ways in Sankhuwa Sabha district. The conflict has interrupted development works, caused damage to much government and public infrastructure, led to considerable loss of life, displaced many civilians, and affected many others both directly and indirectly. The Civil Peace Conference came into being as a response to this suffering, with the aim of developing strategies to address these issues. The initiative also aimed to develop strategies for moving the current peace process forward and progressing from the establishment of Loktantra (Democracy) in 2006.

HUREP, the NGO Federation of Sankhuwa Sabha and the Coordination Committee for the Promotion of Human Rights, Peace and Development jointly organised the Civil Peace Conference in Sankhuwa Sabha on 22nd/23rd January, 2007. Around 120 people participated in the conference, coming from political parties, governmental and non-governmental organisations, civil society, the media, women's groups, and Dalit groups. The two day conference focused on raising awareness amongst various stakeholders about peace and motivating them to get involved in the current peace process from their respective sectors. The conference further discussed how to address the impact of the Maoist conflict, and how to move ahead in the changing political situation.

Aims / Objectives

How it is Articulated

The organising committee prepared a list of local organisations, government agencies and other stakeholders, and invited responsible people from those organisations to the conference.

The seminars opened with the presentation of two working papers on "Impacts of conflict in Sankhuwa Sabha district" and the "Role of local stakeholders in peace process", written by local peace and human rights experts.

The participants separated into 16 groups and answered questionnaires on the peace process. An in-depth discussion followed, focusing on the answers gathered from the questionnaires.

The first draft of the Sankhuwa Sabha peace declaration grew from the answers to these questionnaires and the discussion. The final copy of the declaration was published following further discussion by the participants on the first draft.

Achievements / Learning Points

Through the Civil Peace Conference the participants agreed and published a 23 point Sankhuwa Sabha peace declaration on how to address the impacts of conflict, how to work in the post-conflict peace-building period, and how to go on to strengthen democracy in the changing political situation. The participants learnt that peace-building initiatives work best through cooperation and coordination.

Geographical Area of Operation

Sankhuwa Sabha district in Koshi zone

Funding Resources

Organisations Involved

Stories

This is the first civil peace conference ever organized in Sankhuwa Sabha district since the outbreak of the conflict 12 years ago. The organisers are very proud of the outcomes of the conference and in particular the publication of the peace declaration.