Coordinating an Effective Advocacy for Peace in Nepal

This initiative is an extension of COCAP's work uniting NGOs to promote justice and respect for human rights. The initiative focuses on peace rallies and workshops around Kathmandu and nationwide, even reaching out to the more remote areas of Nepal.

Description

The initiative continues COCAP's work in advocacy and campaigning against human rights violations and violations in connection with the armed conflict. In addition to this, the initiative incorporates lobbying and campaigning for a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict in Nepal.

Aims / Objectives

The initiative has been designed to fulfil COCAP's mission of contributing to the promotion of a culture of peace and justice in Nepal through the mobilisation of a network of socially committed and financially transparent civil society actors.

How it is Articulated

COCAP organises seminars, interactions and discussion programmes on the themes of human rights, conflict and peace. In particular the seminars and interactions have focused on the present internal armed conflict and its peaceful resolution.

The initiative also involves regular peace rallies to create pressure on both conflicting parties to come to a peace agreement. The national member organisations of COCAP generally take it on themselves to organise the peace rallies nationwide and COCAP itself organises the rallies in Kathmandu.

The initiative also provides training on human rights and peace. Last but not least, COCAP monitors human rights violations by the state and the Maoists in connection with the armed conflict.

Achievements / Learning Points

COCAP organised 26 workshops on 26 different thematic issues (amongst them The Role of Civil Society in Peacebuilding, Future Nepal, Role of Women in Peacebuilding, Inclusivity, etc.) under the "People's Initiative for the Future of Nepal" in November 2004 around Kathmandu. Participants in the workshops came from almost every part of Nepal, and even from remote areas such as Humla and Mugu. The workshops were organised at minimum cost and achieved the mobilisation of high numbers of volunteers.

COCAP programmes are gaining popularity and getting coverage from the national newspapers and the television channels. Newspapers such as Kantipur and Kathmandu Post as well as the Kantipur TV Channel have run the programme's news.

Geographical Area of Operation

Nationwide

Funding Resources

Misereor - Germany (secretarial cost only).

Organisations Involved

42 member organisations:

• Advocacy Forum, Kathmandu;
• Bhimpokhara Youth Club (BYC), Baglung;
• Centre for Community Research and Environment Development, Parbat;
• Dalit Empowerment Centre, Baglung;
• Hamro Abhiyan, Kathmandu;
• Jagaran Media Centre, Kathamndu;
• People's Awareness Concern Forum, Argakhanchi;
• Women Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), Kathmandu;
• Active Forum for Human Rights Awareness, Nepalgunj;
• Chetana Club, Dang;
• Dalit Development Society, Salyan;
• Danfe Youth Club, Jarjarkot;
• Indreni Rural Development Centre, Rupandehi;
• Jagaran Nepal, Kathmandu;
• People-Centred Development Forum (PCDF),Bardiya;
• Multidisciplinary Institute for Livelihood Environmental Natural Resources Management (MILAN), Myagdi;
• Women Service Centre, Kaski;
• Nepal Yolmo Society Service Association, Sindhupalchock;
• Social Awareness Concerned Forum (SAC), Banke;
• Community Law Research Centre (CLRC), Jhapa;
• Shanti Samaj Kendra, Makwanpur;
• Society for Ex-Budhanilkantha Students (SEBS), Kathmandu;
• Human Rights Awareness and Social Development Centre (HURADC), Kailali;
• Victim Welfare Development Program, Banke;
• Nepal Social Development and People Empowerment Centre (NESPEC), Udayapur;
• Sharada Salyan Nepal, Salyan;
• Social Welfare Education Environment and Tourism (SWEET), Kanchanpur;
• Srijanshil Samaj Nepal, Rupandehi;
• Community Development Forum, Support Nepal, Siraha;
• Panchawati Rural Development Centre (PRDC), Udayapur;
• Support Nepal, Dhanusha;
• Youth Action Nepal, Kathmandu;
• Char Tare Yuwa Club (CYC), Baglung;
• Environment and Social Concern Centre, Palpa;
• People Participation for Sustainable Development - Nepal (PASS-Nepal), Salyan;
• Nepal Civic Society (CIS), Surkhet;
• Environment and Rural Development Centre (ENRUDEC), Banke;
• Conscious Society for Social Development (CSSD), Kailali;
• Regional Dalit Network, Kailali;
• Women's Programme Centre, Kanchanpur;
• Gramin Sudhar Manch, Dadheldura; and
• Mitra Sangh, Baitadi.