Peace Campaign and Advocacy for Conflict Management

The initiative aims to influence the policies of the parties to Nepal's conflict, and to mould public opinion into accepting a culture of peace.

Description

The campaign has focused on peaceful resolution of the ongoing internal armed conflict. The organisation has identified a ceasefire, peaceful dialogue and a constitutional assembly as the means to resolve the crisis. Currently, the conflict at the political level is among the King, political parties and the Maoists. The tri-polar conflict needs to be transformed to a bi-polar one as the first step to conflict resolution. FOHRID has been holding discussions and workshops attended by experts, policy makers, senior officials in the army and police, journalists and common people as part of this peace campaign and advocacy.

Aims / Objectives

The aims of the organisation are:

• to create awareness amongst people for peace and pressurise the conflicting parties to declare a ceasefire and begin a fruitful peace process;
• to empower people in the democratic process and enable them for conflict transformation;
• to develop public interest for peace and campaign for conflict management.
  
  

How it is articulated

Conferences, seminars, focus group discussions, publication and dissemination, networking, formation of task forces, and lobbying are the activities conducted under the peace campaign and advocacy for conflict management.

Achievements / Learning Points

The major achievement of this initiative is that FOHRID has been able to create public awareness and attract the attention of stakeholders involved in peace campaigns and conflict management. The organisation has found that the ongoing internal conflict cannot be resolved through military means alone and that it is intrinsically related to the issue of political transformation. In fact, the existing socio-political structure has compelled the marginalised community to raise their voice against the State mechanism. However, due to the use of inappropriate means, the current insurgency is focused more on destroying human values than transforming the political system. Establishing true democracy by recognising and respecting the power of the people is necessary to resolve the present crisis.

Geographical Area of Operation

Central, eastern and western regions of Nepal.

Funding Resources

DED Nepal.