Manjrika Sewak, Gender Democracy and Peace Building: Ninth Annual Conflict Transformation Workshop, WISCOMP (2012)

Anuradha M. Chenoy , Countering Militarization, Building Peace: The Intersectionality of SCR 1325 and the Responsibility to Protect, WISCOMP (2012)


Democracies in Transition: Opportunities and Challenges for Nepal

WISCOMP organized an international symposium titled Democracies in Transition: Opportunities and Challenges for Nepal at the India International Center, New Delhi from January 22 - 24, 2009. This symposium brought together over forty scholars, practitioners, diplomats, activists, legislative members and women in politics from Nepal and India to reflect upon the processes of conflict transformation and peace-building that are currently under way in Nepal.

The symposium provided space for a repertoire of responses and generated dialogue on the prospects for democracy and governance in Nepal and the South Asian region. It focused on the challenges of constitution building for contemporary Nepal and looked at how different civil society groups including women’s groups perceive their role in the unfolding democratic processes and in envisioning the new Nepalese identity as a fresh chapter is carved out in its political history. The symposium provided a context to examine the conflicts that the newly constituted Constituent Assembly is impelled to address and the approaches and methodologies that are available to meet the emerging expectations of the people of Nepal. The participants at the symposium explored four major themes:

• The challenges of constitution building in contemporary Nepal
• Land, Livelihood and Social Justice
• Security Sector Reforms: Mapping the Terrain in Nepal
• Nepal, India and the International Community: Building New Partnerships

The symposium was attended by Nepal Constituent Assembly members- Lt. Gen. C.B. Gurung, Hon. Hari Roka, Hon. Mohammadi Siddique, Hon. Pushpa Bhusal, Hon. Sapana Pradhan Malla and Hon. Sarita Giri. Some other eminent speakers from India and Nepal included Ms. Chitra Lekha Yadav (Nepalese politician and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives), H.E. Dr. Durgesh Man Singh (Ambassador of Nepal to India), Mr. Fali Nariman (Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India), Amb. K.V. Rajan (Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal) and Amb. Shyam Saran (Former Indian Foreign Secretary and Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal).

 
Wiscomp was established as part of the efforts of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility to build a culture of coexistence and nonviolence that is gender-sensitive and inclusive. A not-for-profit, non-sectarian, non-denominational organization, the Foundation promotes universal responsibility in a manner that celebrates a diversity of beleifs and practices, and that contributes to a global ethic of nonviolence, coexistence and gender equity. The work of the Foundation is global in its reach and transcends nationalist political agendas.

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