REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN VICTIMS IN NEPALI PEACE TALKS SOUGHT

March 11, 2003 – (Post Report ) Women victims of the armed conflict should find representation in peace negotiations as per the spirit of UN Security Resolution 1325 concerning the protection of rights and security of women and children.

This view was expressed at the 14th interaction programme organised today by Nagarik Aawaz (citizens’ voice) on UN Resolution 1325, which emphasises the role of state in the protection of the rights of women victims and those displaced by war. The resolution was passed in October 2000 as per the spirit of Beijing declaration and working plan on Women 2000: Gender equality, development and world peace for the 21st century.

Highlighting the importance of UN resolution, Sobha Gautam, the chairperson of the Institute Human Rights Commission, Nepal said there should be representation of women war victims in all decision-making processes from grassroots to the central level.

She also informed that her organisation is set to launch advocacy programmes for village women in five conflict-affected districts on the UN Resolution 1325 along with income-generating programmes. Anjana Shakya of INHURED said indigenous communities who have been largely marginalised too should be brought into the framework of the peace process.

"The peace negotiations would not be sustainable if we ignore the voice of people at the grassroots levels," she said.

Attributing the structural violence to the Nepali education system, she said the education system in Nepal has not integrated 60 per cent of marginalized indigenous population into it.

Radha Budathoki, spokesperson of Nepal Samata Party said the present government is willing to include women in the peace talks committee. She also called on the government to deliver justice to the war-victimised women without delay. A large number of village women have been sexually abused and killed by the warring sides.

From http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2003/mar/mar12/local.htm