Alliance for Peace

1. Orientation for FSU members was undertaken in Dolakha, Rupandehi and Kanchanpur that has been instrumental in exploring ways to build consensus through collaboration among FSU members.

2. There was two 5- day leadership training for women members of political youth and student organizations. The resource person for these trainings was hired from “Samuhik Abhiyan”. Since one of those was scheduled in the earlier quarter, due to unfavorable environment that was shifted to third quarter. Hence one of the training was held in Kailali where there were women participants from Kailali and Bardiya. Other one was conducted in Dang with the participation of women participants from Rukum and Rolpa. These trainings were instrumental in imparting leadership skills to women of political student wings and youth organizations.

3. An interaction with youth and student wings of political parties was carried out in Kathmandu that was helpful in generating ways to establish the concepts and practices of inter and intra-organizational democracy. In this regard interaction was focused on the electoral system that was best suited for FSU election. The session was conducted by Shyam Sundar Sharma, Joint Secretary of Election Commission.

4. Cross party meetings amongst youth and students wings of political parties was conducted in six districts focusing on the methods for consensus building. Consensus building was identified as one of the major element to establish inter and intra-party democracy by the participants.

5. A meeting with women department of youth and student organizations was carried out in Kathmandu. The discussion was focused on promoting women’s meaningful participation in decision making process. It has been found that current youth and students representing their women department of the organization were eager and capable of meaningful participation in decision making given adequate opportunity and platform.

6. A central level training for young human rights defenders from both central and district levels was conducted in Nagarkot. Although the training was scheduled in the earlier quarter due to unfavorable circumstances it was carried out in the third quarter. All districts coordinators, female participants from Youth Peace Dialogue Centre (YPDC) and fresh graduates participated in that program. The training was facilitated by Krishna Subedi from INSEC (Chief, Human Rights Education Department) and Ramesh Prasain (Consultant).

7. Briefing sessions on human rights and transitional justice was carried out in seven districts that emphasized on promoting norms and values of Human rights by ending culture of impunity through transitional justice.

8. Orientation classes for youth and students on Human Rights laws and practices (Big 7 conventions) were conducted in each districts. The classes were facilitated by respective districts coordinators and female representative from YPDC who attained training for young human rights defenders in Nagarkot.

9. Public hearings on human rights and transitional justice in the issue of Human rights and administration of justice with reference to transitional justice were carried out in many districts during the third quarter.

10. A seminar about youth and transitional justice followed by documentary shows was conducted in Kailali, Dolakha and Rukum. The seminars were  instrumental in imparting the basic concept of transitional justice with international experiences and Nepalese implication.

11. Training on Peace Building and Conflict Transformation (PBCT) was organized in Nagarkot with the participation of districts coordinators, female representative from Youth Peace Dialogue Centre (YPDC) and fresh graduates. The resource persons for that training were Himmat Singh “Lekali” and Bandita Thapa.

12. District level public dialogue forums on non-violence and cooperation was conducted in Kailali, Bardiya, Dolakha and Rupandehi where the importance and benefit of non-violence was established and non-violence was identified as a powerful tool for taking peace process to a logical conclusion.

13. A comprehensive survey on war affected youth in 15 districts has been initiated. Focus group discussion, training for enumerators has been conducted. Data collection is in process and analysis, report preparation, publication and dissemination has been scheduled in another quarter.

14. Meetings of Trans-partisan Youth Caucus consisting young CA members was conducted with a view to include youth issues in new constitution. Agendas of youth were in discussion in those meetings.

Kathmandu, August 12.

Minister for Energy, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat launched a book entitled ‘Youth in Transitional Nepal: Issues and Perceptions” based on the findings of the National Youth Survey in Kathmandu today. In the ceremony organized by Alliance for Peace to mark International Youth Day, he stressed that youth of Nepal are aspiring for freedom and prosperity.

This survey-based book reveals a picture of Nepalese youths they face both challenges and opportunities and features their reflections on various concerns on democracy, social, political and economic life of the youth in Nepal.