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Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Nepal
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In-Country

The Sari Soldiers Screening at IFC
August 14-20, 2009

ICTJ's Pivot Pictures, in partnership with Julie Bridgham (Butter Lamp Films) and our local Nepali partner Media for Development, is planning a two-year, high impact outreach campaign for The Sari Soldiers in Nepal.

View the film at at a one week exclusive screening at IFC in New York City.

Also, meet Julie Bridgham at New York City's Rubin Museum of Art at a screening and discussion with the filmmaker on August 26 at 7pm.

About The Sari Soldiers
The Sari Soldiers by Julie Bridgham, an extraordinary story of six women's courageous efforts to shape Nepal's future in the midst of an escalating war against Maoist insurgents, is screening at the IFC Center in New York City. Produced with the assistance of the WMM Production Assistance Program, The Sari Soldiers is also distributed by WMM.

Filmed over three of the most pivotal years in the modern history of Nepal, The Sari Soldiers delves into the journeys of women on opposing sides of the conflict, and the democratic revolution reshaping their country's future. This month, watch it as part of the International Documentary Association's DocuWeeks. Following DocuWeeks screenings in Los Angeles, The Sari Soldiers will screen at the IFC Center in New York from August 14 through August 20.

For tickets to view this film, please click HERE

Helping Low Caste Women Access Credit in Nepal
World Neighbors (sponsor)
In the only plain of Nepal, the culture in Terai is notorious for dowry, purdah and caste systems that cause for the low status for poor women, and problems such as wife beating. Over 75% of women are illiterate. Most girls marry at age 17. Women lack access to family planning and reproductive health services. Many births are spaced too close together. Over 30% of pregnancies are unwanted. Most women lack income to pay for health services, and get into debt. This income generation project, which costs $20,000 to run, will provide training and capital for women's savings and credit groups; increase % of women obtaining pre-natal health care and assistance at birth; provide couples with access to family planning and reproductive health services. Through this project, marginalized communities can meet basic needs and sustain an equitable, inclusive development process with adequate access to health. To learn more and/or contribute to their project fund, please click here, or contact Jagdish Ghimire, Area Representative for World Neighbors, P.O. Box 916, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: 011 977 1-546688.

Innovative Postal Campaign Brings HIV Messages Nationwide in Nepal
Feb. 20, 2004
In order to reach the many Nepalese who live beyond the scope of regular mass media HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns, PSI/Nepal has launched an innovative postal sticker campaign which will expose those in remote areas, who are often unable to access newspapers, television and radios, to lifesaving prevention messages. The Number One postal sticker campaign will place a sticker bearing an HIV/AIDS prevention message on every piece of postal mail entering or leaving Nepal for approximately six months. Reaching out to those inaccessible areas where risk of HIV infection is even more prevalent than in urban areas was a challenge for PSI/Nepal, until now. Click Here for more information on the Campaign.

Honor the Dead, Respond with Peace
September 21, 2003
On the International Peace Day, Nepali women will hold a women’s panel discussion assessing the need of the voice and role of Nepali women in the peace-building process. After the panel, a Walk for Peace will be done from Bhrikuti Mandap, Bhadrakali, Shahid Gate, New Road Gate, Ratna Park to Bhadrakali. For more information visit the Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal.

Women Building Peace
2003
Based on information from the Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON)

The Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON) has established Community Women Peace Volunteers in 5 districts of Nepal among the 75 districts. In these groups there are 5 District Peace Volunteers (DPVs), 25 Community Peace Volunteers (CPVs) and 25 Community Peace Groups (CPGs) where 25-50 women are in one group.

IHRICON has provided training to these groups on women's rights, human rights, Resolution 1325 and the impact of small arms. They are conducting an interactive program every month and publishing a newspaper on their activities and related women's issues in the village. Women are currently actively involved in highlighting these issues.

IHRICON was the first NGO to introduce Resolution 1325 in Nepal with the support of International Alert, London. IHRICON is currently implementing this program with the support of Canadian Cooperation, Nepal (CIDA).
 
Although the IHRICON initiative has been introduced in a highly Maoist-affected areas, since the volunteers are from among the local population, they are able to work safely.

IHRICON predicts that when women become involved in this initiative, by learning about and using Resolution 1325 and other rights-based documents, they will be able to create change within their villages.

For more information, contact IHRICON

International