Institute of Peace and Development (INPED)

This initiative works towards protecting and promoting human rights in Nepal by establishing and training community groups. These groups are geared towards the full, active participation of disadvantaged people from the communities.

Overview

INPED is a non-profit making and non-partisan human rights and peace organisation, geared towards promoting peace and development through the active involvement of civil society actors. It aims to protect and promote human rights to support conflict transformation, peace-building and development in the Sindhuli district of Nepal. INPED does this through eliminating discrimination based on gender, caste or ethnicity.

INPED recognises that people want, firstly, peace and, secondly, development. The organisation uses research, training, human rights awareness, peace education, lobbying, advocacy, and campaigning to achieve its aims.

INPED was established in December 1999 and registered in Sindhuli district in March 2001. It is also been affiliated with the Social Welfare Council of Kathmandu since October 2002.

INPED forms community groups with a broad representation of gender, ethnicity and age. There are around 807 people in such groups, which includes 203 women, 360 students, and 139 girls in children's peace clubs in schools.

These groups are thus formed with the participation of the disadvantaged people of society, who are given training on human rights, peace and development. Once the training is complete these people can help to achieve the objective of the organisation.

For example, these groups are raising their voices against the violation of their rights and sharing their knowledge on rights and peace in the community. They have also been raising their voices against any conflicting party that violates the norms and principles of human rights while they are in the community.

These victims and marginalised communities, by taking part in the organisation’s programmes, are raising their collective voices for the protection and promotion of human rights and the recognition of humanitarian law by the conflicting parties.

These groups monitor the human rights situation and provide reports to INPED and the media as well as pressurising the conflicting parties to abide by the provisions of human rights law.

They are recognising the need for cooperation with a sense of peace and social justice in order to assert the rights of the community. If any problem arises they sit together, discuss and explore various alternatives, and work out the best solution. They also share resources and funds collected by the groups for addressing the problems of needy households.

The level of awareness of human rights and peace-building issues amongst these concerned groups has been increasing. They are committed to launch peace and development initiatives by themselves in the community with active participation.

The trainees are also frequently participating in managing local level conflict in the community. Similarly, they have become capable of managing the disputes over natural resource management. They have discussed their ideas and shared their knowledge to begin solving the different social problems they are presented with.

The groups understand the relationship between peace and development very clearly and are advocates for the development of a culture of peace and respect for human rights in the society.

What Services are Provided?

Education, workshop/interaction, training, publication, research, consultancy etc.

Geographical Area of Operation

INPED is operating in the Sindhuli district of Nepal. However, it is planning to implement programmes related to peace, human rights and justice in the central region of Nepal in the future.

Funding Resources

Support for Peace and Development Initiatives - United Nations Development Programme (SPDI/UNDP).

What Further Information would you like?

We would like to have further information about events, opportunities, funding resources and networking to create solidarity with like-minded organisations all over the world.

What New Contacts would you like to make?

Networking, partnerships, exchange ideas and volunteers in the field of peace and justice.

Associated Organisations

• Social Welfare Council;
• Peace network of SPDI/UNDP;
• Network of Creative International Forum;
• Collective Campaign for Peace; and
• Human rights and peace groups formed through coordination with the regional peace networks formed as part of the National Peace Campaign.