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Social Mobilisation Programme
Since 2005 this Nepali initiative has focused on the development and training of Self Help Groups (SHGs). These groups run awareness raising campaigns to oppose discrimination and domestic violence, and to support non-violence and conflict mediation.
Description
The Rural Development Centre (RDC) developed the "Social Mobilisation" initiative in 2005 to help raise awareness of non-violence as a means for conflict resolution, for instance through dialogue, facilitation, mediation and negotiation. The initiative has focused on recognising the causes and consequences of domestic violence, and on resolving violence through peaceful means. It has further focused on generating local opinions about the peaceful resolution of the Maoist conflict.
Domestic violence against women and girls (such as wife beating, child marriage, discrimination on education between boys and girls, food discrimination between men and women and boys and girls) and gender discrimination over property and citizenship rights motivated girls and women to get involved in the Maoist conflict. One of the Maoists' popular slogans was to free women and girls from any kind of violation or discrimination against them. One of forty demands submitted by the Maoists to the then Prime Minister in 1996 at the start of the conflict was for the elimination of all forms of domestic violence and other violence based in the patriarchal society.
Aims / Objectives
- To make people aware of peaceful means for conflict resolution;
- To train members of CBOs and local NGOs on conflict management and peacebuilding; and
- To develop a culture for respecting human rights and using non-violent means for conflict resolution.
How it is Articulated
- Formation of SHGs;
- Training the groups; and
- Mobilisation of the groups to make people aware of peace, human rights and social justice issues.
Achievements / Learning Points
RDC has formed 59 SHGs in its working area in Sankhuwa Sabha district. These groups have mobilised in the rural areas of the district to make people aware of human rights, peace, development, and social justice through door to door campaigns, posters and pamphlets, meetings, seminars, and other interaction.
The groups have further been working to support the people's income generation, decrease domestic violence, make people aware of the caste system, and resolve local disputes and differences through peaceful means. The groups organise meetings, interactions, seminars, workshops/trainings, and sometimes door to door visits for the above purposes. As a result, the people have become aware of caste discrimination, advocated for the elimination of this discrimination, started using non-violent means for the resolution of local differences, and generated local opinions for the peaceful resolution of the Maoist conflict.
RDC has trained 600 people involved in human rights, development, peace and social justice activities in the district on "Conflict Management". The organisation has held 30 separate training sessions for different people in the different areas of the district. Members of the SHGs have also participated in this training.
Members of the SHGs, having been trained on conflict management, have occasionally helped solve local disputes and differences. The SHG members have created an environment for dialogue between the two local conflicting parties after listening to them. The SHG members have facilitated and mediated local conflicts. Domestic violence has notably decreased since the implementation of the programme. Awareness of local people of peaceful means for resolving conflict has gradually increased in the district. Dialogue, mediation and facilitation have been used to resolve local conflicts.
Geographical Area of Operation
Six northern Village Development Councils (VDCs) in Sankhuwa Sabha district in Koshi zone.
Funding Resources
German Technical Cooperation's Rural Programme Nepal (GTZ-RPN).