Nepal

AF documents human rights violations on a large scale, provides victims with legal assistance and demands by means of campaigns and international advocacy to promote the accountability of state institutions. On TJ specifically, the NGO works on empowerment and networking of victims organisations to articulate their issues from local to national level.

Who are we? 
Advocacy Forum Nepal (AF) is a leading non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on promoting the rule of law and upholding international human rights standards in Nepal. Since its establishment in in 2001, AF has been at the forefront of human rights advocacy and actively confronting the deeply entrenched culture of impunity in Nepal, particularly in the context of conflict and transitional justice. 

Our vision is “to establish a just Nepali society with effective mechanisms ensuring fair and accessible justice to all.” Core values underlying our mission include: combatting impunity, respecting accountability, empowering victims as active subjects and not passive recipients, confidentiality, protection and promotion of the rule of law and respect for human rights. 
 

Working for Peace in Nepal 

AF engages in various activities to promote rule of law and human rights standards and end impunity, including: capacity development of the victims themselves, legal aid services, high level advocacy for legal and policy reforms aimed to create effective institutions, and the documentation of human rights abuses on a large scale. AF is also actively involved in capacity-building initiatives for lawyers, human rights defenders, and civil society, all with the vision to redress injustice and promote accountability for human rights violations. Some of the concrete activities include:

• Legal aid to victims of human rights violations including children suffering from impacts of armed conflict and juveniles in detention centers;
• Systematic monitoring and documentation of human rights violations
• Promotion of comprehensive transitional justice mechanisms
• Advocacy for reforms of legislations;
• Combatting impunity.

Website: https://www.advocacyforum.org/about-us/index.php 

Who are we? 

Bikalpa is a non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) working for children with a special focus on indigenous and marginalized women and children. Bikalpa was established in 2002 as an ‘Alternative Learning and Training Centre’, committed to work for broader peace and justice with children, parents and educational institutions in informal settlements and structurally weak parts of Kathmandu. Bikalpa is known for its innovative approach to policy advocacy and alternative development models in Nepal. Most projects and activities focus on creating alternative solutions to policy challenges, introducing new ideas and approaches that challenge conventional thinking. Bikalpa’s work includes alternative education, peace and non-violence, conducting in-depth research, raising public awareness, and advocating for policy changes that are more inclusive and equitable. 

Working for Peace in Nepal 

Children are at the core of all Bikalpa’s programs and mission. Bikalpa works with families, mothers and school systems to support children. The activities in Nepal are focused on alternative education, peace and non-violence, leadership, income generation and advocacy and campaigning to promoting good governance and human rights. Bikalpa works to:

• Provide children and youth equal opportunities for their physical, emotional, social and intellectual development;
• Strengthen their roles for justice and human dignity at all levels;
• Enhance strategies and skills that enable self reliance. 

With Kurve Wustrow the NGO primarily works to challenge gender-based violence and domestic violence, and has participatory-developed self-study books to stimulate discussions about violence, basic rights and non-violent behavious, leading to changes in the understanding of roles and relationships within families.

Website: https://bikalpanepal.org/ 

Who are we? 

Center for Dalit Women Nepal (CDWN) is a national-level non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the political, social and economic empowerment of Dalits, women, and marginalized groups in Nepalese society. CDWN was founded in 2016 by a group of Dalit women social activists and political leaders and has since then been working towards “a society free from caste and gender discrimination” and the mission to “support the creation of enabling environment for Dalit and marginalized women’s participation in public life.”

Working for Peace in Nepal 

CDWN’s programs focus on capacity building, leadership training, and advocacy, aimed at breaking the cycle of discrimination and exclusion faced by Dalit women. CDWN is currently working in 37 districts of 7 provinces in Nepal. We work at the grassroots level to educate Dalit women about their rights, provide them with opportunities for economic empowerment, and foster their involvement in decision-making processes. In cooperation with KURVE Wustrow, CDWN is implementing a project for social and political empowerment of Dalit women in the Madhesh-Province to articulate their interests at local and regional level.CDWN works in close partnership with various governmental and non-governmental bodies to raise the voices and ensure active and meaningful participation and rights for Dalit women in social, economic and political spheres.

Website: https://cdwn.org/  

Who are we? 

Nagarik Aawaz, is a non-profit organization in Nepal, known for its focus on peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Founded in 2001, at the heart of the armed conflict (1996-2006), Nagarik Aawaz supports communities and grassroots groups in their efforts for peace, justice, harmony and progress, and is committed towards working at various interfaces of peace and reconciliation in Nepal. 

NA works for a Just and Peaceful Nepal and feels that youth and men are key to realizing this goal. We incest in and provide space for women and youth to step into their roles as transformative peace leaders. We believe that transformed youth and women have the ability to transform discriminatory structures that promote violence. We “capacitate conflict-affected people and marginalised communtiies to transform the influential structures for  a Just and Peaceful Nepal”

Working for Peace in Nepal 

Through its work, Nagarik Aawaz contributes significantly to the broader peace process in Nepal, helping to build a society where differences are resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding rather than violence. In this framework, the organisation implements a range of programs, aimed at target groups that have particularly suffered under the consequences of the armed conflict. Nagarik Aawaz works closely with conflict-affected communities, offering psychosocial support, facilitating dialogue, and creating platforms for reconciliation. In cooperation with KURVE Wustrow, NA mobilises young activists at community level who, called “Peace Ambassadors”, to strengthen social relations and social cohesion by promoting the rights of marginalized groups and integration of internally displaced persons. NA also works to establish sociopolitical institutions for intergroup relationship strengthening, through peace centers, and provides psychosocial care facilities to respond to and deal with community-based violence.  

Website: https://nagarikaawaz.org.np/ 

Who are we? 

Support Nepal (SNP) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) working strategically since 1996 to address the injustice and inequality experienced by poor and marginalised groups in Nepal. The mission of the organisation is to eliminate existing inequalities and discrimination faced by ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, with a particular focus on the disproportionate consequences for Madheshi and Dalit women. 

Our vision is “a pluralistic social and political order with respect and opportunity for all to realize their potentials to the fullest”. We are guided by a set of core values to build creative and trusting relationships with partners to give priority to the needs and interests of people we serve, encourage self-reliance, respect and foster socio-economic and civil-political human rights, seek to enhance gender equity and social inclusion and understand and respect the history and culture of the people we serve. 

Working for Peace in Nepal 

SUPPORT Nepal currently focuses works in the eastern and western Terai, with an emphasis on training, networking, and models of effective development practice to contribute to community development and social cohesion. In cooperation with KURVE Wustrow SNP works for the active participation of minority groups in political decision-making processes at local and national level so that their concerns are adequately taken into account. 

SNP implements a wide range of programs, including health services, education, and infrastructure development, all aimed at improving the well-being of marginalized groups. In the past, SNP played a key role in advocating for the active participation of minority groups in the drafting process of a new constitution and new laws, in order for their concerns to be adequately addressed. Support Nepal now continues with effective training, lobby and advocacy activities – across group boundaries – that promote the participation and inclusion of minority groups, and continue to raise awareness on constitutional rights. Support Nepal is a key player in community development and social cohesion in Nepal. 

Website: https://snp.org.np/ 

Who are we? 

Women for Human Rights (WHR) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Nepal, established in 1995 with the aim of advocating for the socio-cultural, economic and political rights of women, particularly widows and single women, and also women affected by conflict in Nepal. These target groups often face severe and structural social discrimination, and have been disproportionately affected by the armed conflict. The organization has been a pioneer since its foundation in addressing single women’s issues through programs focused on empowerment, education, and economic independence. WHR's role in community mobilization and advocacy is critical in influencing policy changes that address gender inequality and protect women's rights at both local and national levels. 

At WHR, we work for values and principles of non-discrimination, respect and dignity, equity for equality, justice, inclusion, unity in diversity, cooperation, transparency and accountability. Our strategic focus is on capacity building, movement building, institutional building and organizational strengthening. WHR strives to create a just and equitable society where there will be “no discrimination on the basis of marital status.”

Working for Peace in Nepal 

WHR has developed an extensive network of (single) women's groups on regional, national and international levels. Within these groups, a large number of women are also affected by the civil war. Although victim groups already exist, an explicit gender perspective is often lacking. In joint projects with KURVE Wustrow WHR works at grassroots level to support these womens self-help groups as well as targeted advocacy and networking at high level. WHR also works in the area of remembrance culture through: the documentation of women-specific cases, especially cases of sexual violence committed during the time of the civil war (conflict-related sexual violence or CSRV) is insufficient. WHR works on advocating for structured collection of cases, to raise awareness of women's specific needs and lived experiences, and ensure psychosocial support (PSS). Through memorialisation work WHR also retells Nepal’s HERstory by centering on women’s experiences of conflict and peace. 

Website: https://whr.org.np/website/