Peace and Development

The initiative aims to minimise the effect of Nepal's conflict on local people through awareness raising and education.

Description

The organisation aims to find the root causes of both local and national conflict and develop the capacity of people to use non-violent tools and techniques of conflict transformation. Within these particular aims, the organisation has developed and implemented programmes to raise peoples' awareness of human rights and peace and improve their economic situation. It has realised that poverty and a lack of education and awareness are causes of conflict.

Aims / Objectives

The organisation aims to find the root causes of both local and national conflict and introduce non-violent tools and techniques of conflict transformation. The organisation also aims to minimise the impact of conflict on local people.

How it is Articulated

The organisation conducted a three month orientation programme and formed 40 groups. It works through these groups at the local level on human rights, peace and development. Furthermore, it has conducted training and workshops on different issues such as income generation and skill development training.

Achievements / Learning Points

The NESPEC has conducted community orientation programmes on Human Rights and Peace. The organisation undertook this in order to raise peoples' awareness of the provisions of the Nepali constitution which directly affect them and make people more familiar with parts of Nepali law. It has formed groups of local people and has been mobilising the groups to raise awareness amongst the local people regarding human rights and non violent means of conflict resolution. The organisation has realised that poverty and a lack of education and awareness are causes of conflict at both the local and national levels.

Geographical area of operation

Udayapur district in Eastern Nepal.

Funding Resources

Development Initiatives (UNDP-SPDI), (Nepal).

Associated Organisations

COCAP.

Stories

NESPEC contacted both of the conflicting parties in order to ensure that they did not cause any harm which would disrupt schooling in the Udayapur district.  The Maoists would frequently visit the schools and kidnap children for the purpose of recruiting them in the Maoists militias and attending its party meetings and closing down the schools.  Since the intervention of NESPEC,  schools have been running regularly and abductions of school children have been decreasing.