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Nepal Centers

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Nepal Centers

 

Known Centers based in Nepal

If your center is not in this list and you want to be added, please contact Hurights Osaka and we will assist you.

 


 

Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES)

 

Date Established: 1999

 

Short Historical Background

 

Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES) is a non-profit, non-partisan non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the protection and promotion of press freedom and freedom of expression in Nepal since its establishment in 1999.

 

Besides publishing annual reports on the status of Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom in the country, CEHURDES organises training and workshops for journalists and opinion leaders on various issues of free expression, undertakes research and publishes relevant materials to promote the cause.

 

As the first member of IFEX (International Freedom of Expression Exchange, www.ifex.org)-- the Toronto-based network of organisations working in the areas of freedom of expression around the world— in Nepal, CEHURDES has been actively monitoring the situation of press freedom and freedom of expression in the country and is engaged in lobbying and advocacy works. CEHURDES has worked with the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ)—another IFEX member in Nepal—and other like-minded organisations for upholding press freedom during the royal rule and continues to liaise and work actively to highlight new threats facing the Nepalese media community and ensure a safe working environment for media personnel and free expression activists.

 

 

Objectives

 

The main aims and objectives of CEHURDES are as follows:

 

  • To work for the protection and promotion of human rights under the policies and guidelines adopted by the United Nations.
  • To carry out human rights awareness activities to raise the level of consciousness of people to materialize the theme "all human rights for all".
  • To conduct human rights education programs at the grassroots level both in formal and informal education sector.
  • To work to ensure press freedom and freedom of expression, including the rights of media workers and journalists as guaranteed by the country's Constitution and international human rights instruments.
  • To conduct research, study, interaction programs etc. in the areas of human rights, press freedom and freedom of expression, democracy and peace in Nepal in the context of regional experience.
  • To advocate for safeguarding the rights of women, children, disabled people, disadvantaged communities, refugees and victims of torture.
  • To coordinate and monitor the implementation of the international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations and ratified by Nepal.

 

Programs

 

Enhancing peoples participation in constitution making process to guaranteeing Fundamanetal Human Rights and Freedom of Expression in particular

 

Mobilizing media for educating people on Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression

 

Training programs to journalists on HR Reporting and mainstreaming the issues of marginalised communities

 

Interaction Programs with civil society activists

 

 

Activities

 

Regular monitoring of status of press freedom and freedom of expression, issueing statements with acute concerns towards protection and safeguarding fundamental HR instruements

 

Production of Radio programs and airing those from number of FM radio stations

 

Publication and distribution of education materials like posters in various local dialects and others to educate and sensitize people of different communities on various rights issues

 

Training to journalists and interaction with civil society people

 

Special Concerns

 

Fundamental Issues of Concern

 

Protection and promotion of human rights

Support institutionalization of democratic exercise

Enhance press freedom and freedom of expression

 

 

Publications

 

Annual Reports "Status of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Nepal"

Training Manual for journalists on HR Reporting

Practical Handbook for Journalists

Right to Information

Free Expression Periodical

 

 

 

Address

 

Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES)

GPO Box 23809, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel/ Fax: (977-1) 4780809, 977 9841 242391

E-mail: cehurdes@mos.com.np

Webpage: www.cehurdes.org.np www.ifex.org/members/cehurdes

 

 

 

 

Center for Legal Research and Resource Development (CeLRRd)

 

Year Established: 1998

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Center for Legal Research and Resource Development (CeLRRd) is a non-governmental organization, founded in its present form in 1998. Its fundamental goal is to accelerate the process of systemic change in society, by fostering widespread understanding of the Rule of Law and unrestricted access to free and fair Justice.

 

Objectives

 

CeLRRd aims

 

  • To promote access to justice for all irrespective of the social, ethnic, religious, and gender-based cleavages
  • To safeguard the rights and interests of disadvantaged segments of Nepalese society
  • To conduct research activities on socio-legal issues that have direct impact on the lives of Nepalese people
  • To foster legal professionalism with an emphasis on "alternative lawyering"
  • To conduct extensive paralegal and general legal awareness programs for the benefit of the grassroots community
  • To provide extended and institutionalized legal aid services to the victims of injustice and Human Rights violations
  • To lobby for essential and appropriate legislation, providing professional assistance in the drafting process
  • To foster culture of peace and reconciliation in communities
  • To lobby for the reform of existing legislation with the norms of human rights and fair trial

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

  • Support to Justice Sector Initiatives (Human Rights Orientations for the staffs of Judicial and Quasi-judicial bodies on the basis of Human Rights Manual developed by CeLRRd)
  • Free Legal Aid to Prisoners
  • Strengthening of the Fair Trial Situation
  • Combating trafficking of women and children through Community Surveillance System Against Trafficking (CSSAT)
  • Community Mediation Program in six districts
  • Community Peace Building Program
  • Developing Rights-based Approach for Anti-trafficking Actions in South Asia
  • Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System
  • Coalition for Constituent Assembly Support (CoCAS)
  • Victims Legal Aid
  • Development and conduction of Orientation on Criminal Procedural Guidelines to Judges, Government Attorney, Police and Bar-members

 

 

 

Special Concerns

 

Promotion of Rule of Law, Good Governance, and Human Rights in the nation and in Judiciary in particular

 

 

Publications

 

1.Human Rights Manual (2004)

2.Gender Equality Report 2006

3.Crime (of trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation) Investigation Manual (2002)

4.Manual on Prosecution and Legal procedures /Action (2002)

5.Laws of Nepal Incompatible with Fair Trial Standards (2005)

6.Prisoners Legal Aid Manual (2006)

7.Criminal Procedure Guidelines

8.Report on Nepalese Trail Court Research (2002)

9.District court Manual (2003)

10.Analysis and Reform of Nepalese Criminal Justice System

11.Community Mediation Manual & Work Book (2005)

12.A Compilation of Discourse Material for Conflict Transformation and Peace Building

13.Manual on Fair Trial Standards (2005)

14.Baseline Survey on Criminal Justice System of Nepal

15.Analysis of Laws and Policies on Labour Migration & Trafficking (2002)

16.Study on Counter Corruption Legal Framework (2000)

17.National Conference on Community Mediation (2005)

18.Report of Support to Justice Initiative Programs (2005)

19.Social Responsive Human Rights Legal Education

20.Impact of Corruption in Criminal Justice System on Women (Condemned to Exploitation) (2000)

 

 

  • Bi-monthly E-bulletin (along with Kathmandu School of Law)

 

 

Address

 

Center for Legal Research and Resource Development (CeLRRd)

P.O.Box No. 6618, Tinkune, Kathmandu, Nepal

ph 977-1-2042268, 4112293 , 6634455, 6634663

fax : 977-1-4112293

e-mail : celrrd@wlink.com.np

www.ksl.edu.np

 

 

 

 

 

Child Rights Research and Resource Center at KSL

 

Year Established: 2007

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Kathmandu School of Law (KSL) established in December 2007 the Child Rights Research and Resource Center (KSL Child Rights Center) in order to strengthen research and sharing of information on the issues of child rights at national as well as regional levels. The primary objective of the Center is to build a competent rights regime in Nepal (and South Asias region) by establishing a capable institution to generate human and intellectual resources pertaining to child rights, development and psychology.

 

The Center is the outcome of the commitment of different like-minded institutions to work as joint venture to protect and promote child rights and access to justice. Save the Children Norway, Save the Children Sweden, UNICEF, Tdh Nepal, Center for Legal Research and Resource Development (CeLRRd) deserves credit in initiating this important mission. Their moral, financial and logistic support boosted KSL's strength in initiating this challenging yet benign mission.

 

 

 

Objectives

 

The Center aims

1) To conduct continuous research and impact analysis study of programs being implemented by various agencies in relation to the child rights, development and psychology

2) To review of the child rights enforcement situation in Nepal and other countries

3) To serve as information clearing house by disseminating periodically and annually information on child rights issues

4) To initiate activities to promote and protect child's rights and access to justice

5) To coordinate with agencies engaged in the protection and promotion of child rights, child development and various types of welfare services

6) To conduct interactive seminars, symposiums and conferences, and academic diploma courses on child rights, development and psychology.

 

 

 

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

1. Documentation and information section

 

The Center has started to operate by setting up the documentation and information section at KSL. Reading resources and publications are being collected and documented (including Supreme Court decisions related to child rights).

 

2. Youth Sensitization Program

 

The Center is organizing a youth sensitization program on the different issues of child rights such as interaction programme among youths, documentary presentation on the issues of child rights, to name a few of the major issues.

 

The Center shows documentaries on the child rights issue (and also child psychology and child development issues) every Monday at 2:00 pm at the documentation and information section to the students and faculty of the school and researchers of related areas. In February 2008, Children's Voices Against Violence Against Girls and Boys and Anuttarit Prasna (Unanswered Question) were shown. The first documentary focused on discrimination between girls and boys in school, family and in the law itself. The documentary shows the psychological and physical effects in the children of such discrimination and violence. The second documentary dealt with the situation and status of juvenile delinquency in Nepal.

 

The Center has scheduled an interaction program on child rights issues for the secondary and senior secondary school students once a week.

 

These types of activities have been effective in creating awareness among youths about the situation and rights of children in and across the South Asian Region.

 

3. Law school course on child rights

 

The Center has started reviewing the curriculum of law schools and other organizations on child rights. Students of LL.B. have been working as interns in the Center.

 

4. The Center established the "CRC-information board" which will display national and international news on child rights every month.

 

 

Future Work Plan:

 

The KSL Child Rights Center plans to undertake the following:

· Establishment of Institutional Framework of Child Rights Research and Resource Center

· Launching of Research and Academic Activities

· Holding Seminars, Interactions and Research at national and regional level

· Establishment of Legal Aid Support to Children

· Establishment of Information and Documentation Section

· Launching of Short Term Diploma and Post Graduate Degree Course on Child Rights

· Launching of Advocacy and Awareness Programs.

· Organization of National Conference.

 

 

 

 

Address

 

Child Rights Research and Resource Center at KSL

Kathmandu School of Law (KSL)

Dadhikot-9, Bhaktapur, Nepal

PO Box: 6618

ph (977-1) 6634455/6634663

Fax (977-1) 6634801

e-mail: childrights@ksl.edu.np

www.ksl.edu.np

 

 

 

Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC)

 

Year Established:1989

 

Short Historical Background

 

The Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) has been ardently involved in the protection and promotion of human rights for more than one and a half decade. Founded by inexorable human rights defender, the late Prakash Kaphley, and prominent human rights activist, Sushil Pyakurel, INSEC significantly contributed in institutionalizing the democratic polity in the nation from a rights-based approach, both at the policy and grassroots levels, especially after the restoration of democracy in 1990/19991 period.

 

 

Objectives

 

 

INSEC aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. People, government, law enforcing and other concerned agencies are aware of the issues and incidences of human right violations and act accordingly

2. Government promulgates and refines its policies and laws to protect and promote human rights of its people as per international treaties and conventions

3. People their representatives law enforcing agencies and other key stakeholders are educated and trained and take action to protect and promote human rights in the country

4. A vibrant network for peace building process in place for advocacy and conflict mitigation (Sharing of experience and working together)

5. National Laws and relative rules and regulations are reinforced against social discriminations (Advocacy against social discrimination)

6. People and communities are protected against human rights violation and supported for rescue and Relief (Human rights protection)

7. Institutional competence of community-based organizations (CBOs) and other like-minded organizations enhanced to work together on human rights, peace building and policy advocacy (ID/OS of partner organization)

8. Recognition as an effective organization in human rights for its effective and transparent management practices.

 

 

 

 

 

Programs

 

 

Human Rights Education - primarily to make local people aware on the need for Human Rights Education, strengthen and mobilize district based human rights non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations/civil society organizations (CBOs/CSOs) and to sensitize concerned government authorities like bureaucrats, policy makers and political parties on human rights issues specially focused at districts level.

Human Rights Advocacy - aims at pressurizing the government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights and humanitarian laws and address major human rights issues through human-rights-based policy formulation and ensure that the human rights of disadvantaged people are protected and the prevailing discriminations based caste, gender and ethnicity are effectively addressed.

Policy Advocacy - aims at pressurizing the government to ratify major international human rights and humanitarian laws treaties as well as make sure that there are mechanisms in place and increased access of the people seeking justice at the national and international levels and dealing with impunity. The campaign also puts pressure upon the government for an immediate implementation of the declarations issued by the House of Representatives and the recommendations made by international community including the United Nations.

Human Rights Campaign (see below for specific campaigns)

INSEConline - aims to strengthen the web-based news portal, the INSEConline, in terms of the physical structure, quality of information collected and disseminated, and ultimately to contribute to the broader human rights movement of the country.

Victim Assistance - aims to assist those victims of human rights violations who need immediate support and who approach INSEC central and regional offices directly.

Human Rights Yearbook - the only primary and reliable source of document for social scientists, human rights activists, journalists and other experts for citing the human rights issues in Nepal.

Institutional Development of INSEC Partner Organizations - aims to help the partners become competent in meaningfully contributing to the human rights movement in the country and be able to work towards this end independently.

 

 

 

 

Activities

 

INSEC undertakes the following activities:

• Group/network formation & mobilization

• Literacy/awareness class

• Collection/documentation/dissemination of information on cases of human rights violation

• Fact-finding missions

• Lobbying and advocacy on human rights issues at local, national and international level

• Campaigns on human rights issues

• Training

• Assessment and monitoring the status of implementation of international treaties and conventions

• Urgent action, press statement against human rights violation, and litigation for human rights protection

• Human rights education through radio

• Public hearing

• Day celebration

• Trauma counselling to human rights victims

• Emergency rescue and relief to human rights victims

• Research.

 

 

 

 

Publications

 

Periodicals

• Prachi (Nepali, bi-monthly)

• Informal (English,quarterly)

• Insec Abhiyan (Nepali, monthly)

• Nepal Human Rights Yearbook (English/Nepali, annual)

• Sthiti Suchak (online) (Nepali, quarterly)

Some other publications

• A Decade of Human Rights Movement in Nepal

• Bal Adhikar Sambandhi Sachitra Pustak (pictorial book on the rights of the child)

• Bonded Labour in Nepal: Under Kamaiya System

• Compilation of UN Conventions Resolutions and Declaration

• Forced to Plough

• Geneva Conventions, 1949 & their Additional Protocols, 1977 (Nepali translation)

• Is There Room Enough?

• Plight of the Kamaiyas

• Situation of Basic Human Rights

• South Asia Human Rights in Difficult Circumstances - Solidarity for Peace in Nepal

• Training Manual for Human Rights Reporters (Nepali)

• Vote Kasalai Dine Kaslai Nadine (Nepali)

• Women in Politics

 

 

Other Information

 

INSEC library

Established in 1990, the INSEC library is the first special library on human rights in Nepal. The objectives of the INSEC library are:

a) To collect, maintain and catalogue literature, photographs, video documentaries, video footages, photographs and other documents on human rights.

b) To disseminate literature and information on human rights to researchers, human rights activists, law makers, political leaders, students, government officials and anyone involved and interested in human rights.

The INSEC library holds more than six thousand documents, including books, journals, reports, articles, conference papers, news clippings, CDs, photographs (printed & digital), video documentaries and video footages.

International Criminal Court (ICC) Campaign

Campaigning and advocating for ratification of international human rights instruments have been core activity for INSEC for considerable amount of time. The more recent campaigning in this regard has been for ratification of the Convention on International Criminal Court (Rome Statute), for which INSEC has been pressurizing the government, sometimes independently and sometimes in close collaboration with other human rights organizations.

Nepal campaign for the International Criminal Court gained more momentum after the formation of the National Coalition for the ICC (NCICC) in 2001. INSEC has been working as the coordinator of the campaign. The campaign aims at facilitating the accession to the Rome Statute by the Nepal Government. The campaign created a momentum for the ICC in Nepal sensitizing all major stakeholders.

For more details visit: www.icc.inseconline.org

 

 

Address

 

Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC)

Syuchatar, Kalanki, Kathmandu, Nepal

P.O. Box 2726, Kathmandu, Nepal

ph (977 1) 4278770

fax (977 1) 4270551

e-mail: insec@insec.org.np

www.inseconline.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Asia Forum for Human Rights(SAFHR)

 

Year Established: 1990

 

Short Historical Background

 

Human rights, peace and democracy are the main areas of concern of the South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR). Established in 1990, SAFHR is a regional public forum for the promotion of respect for universal values of human rights, the interdependence of rights, and the indivisibility of rights.

 

In the strife torn region of South Asia, SAFHR is committed to the promotion of the interlinkages between human rights, peace and substantive democracy. SAFHR is a human rights organization with 'peace as value' as its cornerstone. Peace is understood as a space for the enjoyment of the rights of all peoples. It is not simply the absence of war or the management of crisis but a fundamental value to be integrated in all programs for realizing peoples' security - that is, security of food, shelter, health and livelihood in a non-hegemonic democratic regional order. It is this perspective which animates SAFHR's flagship program - Human Rights and Peace Studies Orientation Course.

 

 

Objectives

 

SAFHR aims

 

1. To promote respect for universal standards of human rights with emphasis on universality and interdependence of rights.

2. To provide a public regional forum for exchange of ideas and concerns on human rights, peace and substantive democracy.

3. To expose human rights abuses in the region. Human rights are abused in dark places and the abused persons are forced into silence in their own country. By organizing regional dialogues, producing research and publications and undertaking advocacy campaigns, SAFHR will provide human rights NGOs and activists an opportunity to expose abuses.

4. To build a communication network of regional human rights and peace activists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and develop a publications program on peace and human rights issues.

5. To undertake programs and campaigns to generate awareness for the rights of the minorities, displaced persons and refugees and work for the reduction of statelessness. SAFHR shall campaign for ratification of United Nations conventions and protocols for the protection of refugees, stateless persons and migrants by the states of the region.

6. Through such mechanisms as people-to-people dialogue, to strive to create inter-state and regional-level peoples' forums for intervention in situations of intra- and inter-state conflicts, lobby with governments and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the creation of regional conventions and mechanisms to improve the quality and standards of human rights all over the region of South Asia.

7. To develop an experimental model of peace education for the region founded on the bedrock of 'peace as value' and the interlinkages between human rights, peace and democracy through its Peace Studies and Human Rights Courses.

8. To focus on strengthening the peace-building capacities of two particular constituencies - women and the media.

 

 

Programs and Activities

 

South Asian Orientation Course in Human Rights and Peace Studies – this three-month long course combines distance education and a direct orientation course. The program is held each year.

 

Peace Audit Exercise - deals with what is conventionally known as "internal conflicts" involving the State and the rebels, though external factors are also discussed in adequate measure wherever they are relevant. In a way, these conflicts can be again designated conventionally as, "ethnic conflicts." While there are many more such conflicts in South Asia, four audits (Chittagong Hill Tracts, Naga Peace Process, Peace Process in Sri Lanka, and the Peace Question in Balochistan) can be said to have brought out the general features of such conflict as predicating their peace processes and settlements, the characteristics of the dynamics of the peace accords, the nature of participation of various actors in the peace process, the ways in which the conflict and its concomitant peace efforts develop, and finally the preponderant issues that mark all such peace attempts.

 

Women, Conflict & Peace - seeks to make women's gender differentiated experience of conflict visible and to demonstrate that women's experience is a valuable resource in managing community survival, conflict mitigation and building peace. Programmatic activities encompass research and publications, regional and country dialogues, training workshops, women-n-peace network, advocacy campaigns.

 

Refugees & Internally Displaced People - campaigns, publications, workshops and training programs.

 

Media and Conflict program - seeks to develop a critical dialogue from within the media of the media as a political actor in shaping and regulating social and political conflicts and affirms its responsibility to expose abuse of authority and violations of human rights and democracy. It seeks to foster the possibility of exploring shared regional perspectives and defining a common future oriented towards peoples’ security and rights framework.

 

Minority Rights - This is a special area of focus for SAFHR. Supported by the European Commission, it started in 2005 and will continue till 2010. During the 2005 – 2007 period, SAFHR organized a series of workshops and training programs for activists belonging to different religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples of South Asian countries. The programs aimed at developing skills in the use of national, regional and international mechanisms in the protection of minorities. SAFHR also took about fifteen (15) selected minority rights activists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Bolzano in South Tyrol, Italy for a direct experience in special autonomy measures developed by the European Community for the protection of minorities. The second phase of this program is currently going on.

 

 

 

Publications

 

No Nonsense Guide to Minority Rights. Edited by Rita Manchanda. New Delhi: Impulsive Creations, 2006.

Critical Readings in Human Rights and Peace - Ram Narayan Kumar and Sonia Muller Rappard. New Delhi - Shipra Publications, 2006.

A Pilot Survey on Internally Displaced Persons in Kathmandu and Birendranagar - Deep Ranjani Rai (2005)

Shrinking Space; Minority Rights in South Asia (1999)

Women War and Peace in South Asia: Beyond Victimhood to Agency, Sage Publications (2001)

Women Making Peace; Strengthening Women's Role in Peace Process (2002)

Women in the Naga Peace Process; A Case Study (forthcoming) In collaboration with Women Waging Peace - Hunt Alternatives Policy Commission

We Do More Because We Can: Naga Women in the Peace Process, Rita Manchanda (2004)

Media Crossing Border, Rita Manchanda (ed.) (2004)

Reporting Conflict; a handbook for media practitioners, Laxmi Murthy(ed.) (2004)

Reporting Conflict: A Radical Critique of the Mass Media by Indian & Pakistani Journalists, SAFHR Paper 9 (2001)

Militarized Hindu Nationalism and the Mass Media, SAFHR Paper 11 (2002)

Media & Conflict in South Asia (forthcoming edited volume)

Freedom of Expression in South Asia (forthcoming edited volume)

Handbook for Media, Human Rights Workers and Peace Activists - Pradipshankar Wagle (2004)

Reduced to Ashes: The Insurgency & Human Rights in Punjab - Ram Narayan Kumar with Amrik Singh, Ashok Agrwaal & Jaskaran Kaur (2003)

Report on National Workshop on Media, Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal (2003)

Unregistered Asylum Seekers from Bhutan: A Pilot Survey (2003)

States, Citizens and Outsiders: The Uprooted Peoples of South Asia, Tapan K. Bose, Rita Manchanda (eds.) (1997)

Living On The Edge: Essay on the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Subir Bhaumik, Meghna Guhathakurta and Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury (eds.) (1997)

 

 

 

Address

 

South Asia Forum for Human Rights

Regional Secretariat

3/23 Shree darbar Tole

Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur, Nepal

ph (977-1) 5541026/5526680

fax (977-1) 5527852

e-mail: south@safhr.org, som@safhr.org, tbose@safhr.org

www.safhr.org

 

India Office:

Q-161, 1st Floor,

Gujjar Dairy Lane, Gautam Nagar,

New Delhi- 110 049 India

ph (91-11) 46036051/52

fax (91-11) 46036053

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