Nepal NGO Coalition Urges the Government to Take Proactive Leadership in Fulfilling Its Human Rights

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

(25 January 2011, Geneva/Kathmandu) Today Nepal underwent its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN member States once every four years under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. During the three-hour session, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sujata Koirala, took the lead in presenting the national report and responding to the questions and concerns raised by other States. The Nepal NGO Coalition for the UPR (NNC-UPR), a coalition representing 235 human rights and civil society organisations in Nepal, notes with appreciation that the government of Nepal at least acknowledged existing and ongoing human rights challenges in the country. However, the NNC-UPR expresses its disappointment at the rhetorical statement by the government delegation and their failure to provide any concrete commitments and timelines for the implementation of Nepal’s human rights obligations. Particularly, the NNC-UPR is troubled by the response of the government delegation who claimed today that “there is no systematic torture in Nepal”, in spite of well documented and credible reports of systematic practices of torture at the hands of State security forces. The NNC-UPR is encouraged by the fact that its issues and concerns were adequately reflected in the interventions of various UN member States, particularly with regards to Nepal’s failure to address the culture of impunity including the investigations into the past and ongoing human rights violations committed by both State security forces and non-State actors. During today’s Review, a number of States made urgent calls to establish transitional justice mechanisms as stipulated in the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances, in accordance with international standards. The wide range of discriminatory policies and practices, specifically discrimination against women, children, Dalits, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, refugees as well as religious, sexual and ethnic minorities were often raised as areas of serious concern. Attention was concentrated to situations of the rights to food, health, housing and education faced by marginalized and vulnerable groups such as Dalits, Madhesis, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, especially the women and girls within these communities. Many States also shed light on the lack of appropriate action taken by the government of Nepal in responding to gender-based violence committed during and after the armed conflict. Meanwhile, the NNC-UPR regrets that the government delegation avoided answering a number of key questions, particularly with regards to lack of implementation of decisions and recommendations by the courts and the national human rights institutions as well as regarding the steps to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, the Convention on Enforced Disappearances, the Convention on the Status of Refugees, and the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court. The Nepal NGO Coalition on the UPR urges the government of Nepal to recognize that the UPR is not a one-time event. Recommendations put forward by today’s Review must be followed up through proactive leadership of the government in ensuring practical and time-bound action plans for actual implementation, upon the genuine consultations with all relevant stakeholders in the country. (ENDS) http://www.forum-asia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2657&Itemid=42

Nepal: Identity Politics and Federalism

Asia Report N°19913 Jan 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal restructuring of the state has emerged as a major demand of ethnic and regional activists in Nepal. The debate about it is extremely politicised. Federalism is not simply the decentralisation of political power; it has become a powerful symbol for a wider agenda of inclusion, which encompasses other institutional reforms to guarantee ethnic proportional representation and a redefinition of Nepali nationalism to recognise the country’s ethnic and cultural diversity.

Activists demand the introduction of reservations to guarantee proportional representation of marginalised groups in government and administration. They want provinces to be named after the most numerous ethnic and regional groups and boundaries drawn to make them dominant minorities. Some claim to be indigenous to these regions and demand preferential rights to natural resources and agradhikar – priority entitlement to political leadership positions in the future provinces.

Ethnic and regional demands were important parts of the Maoist agenda during the civil war; in eastern Nepal, much of their support depended on it. State restructuring became a central component of the 2006 peace deal. After violent protests in the Tarai in 2007, federalism was included in the interim constitution as a binding principle for the Constituent Assembly.

But of the three major parties, the Maoists are the only one to give full-throated support to federalism and the establishment of ethnic provinces. Identity politics may sit uneasily with their class-based ideological framework but federalism is of great importance for them. Now that the former Hindu kingdom is a secular republic, it is the most important point left on their short-term transformative agenda. Much grassroots support, the loyalty of ethnic and regionalist activists within the party and their wider credibility as a force for change depend on them following through.

Both the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), UML, have accepted federal restructuring. They have actively participated in drafting a federal model in the Constituent Assembly. There is agreement on most institutional arrangements including the division of powers between provinces and centre. But this process has been driven by longstanding proponents of federalism within both parties, none of them very influential. It is unclear whether there is a wider consensus. Both parties have agreed to federalism in the spirit of bargaining; neither of them owns the agenda. Behind the official positions there is significant resistance to it.

Backtracking on federalism is politically impossible. Both the NC and UML are already struggling to retain cadres and leaders from minority backgrounds. But deferring crucial decisions, or stalling the constitutional process altogether, could be tempting for those opposed to change. The assumption that the Maoists have both the most to gain and the most to lose from the constitutional process could lend wider appeal to the idea.

The risks are hard to calculate. Ethnic and regionalist groups, already suspicious of the major parties’ commitment to federalism, threaten protests and ultimately violent resistance should it not come. Their eyes are on the 28 May 2011 deadline for the promulgation of the new constitution. Popular support is most widespread among Madhesis in the central and eastern Tarai and members of ethnic groups in the eastern hills. Many Madhesis are disillusioned with their leadership, but feel reforms are incomplete. The organisational landscape of ethnic activists in the eastern hills may be fragmented for now, but underneath lie strong personal and political networks. Activists are getting frustrated and the mood is becoming more militant. With an issue to rally around they are likely to coalesce; a politicised population would easily be mobilised for protest movements, should federalism not come.

Not all want federalism. Popular opposition to ethnic federalism in particular is substantial, by virtue of its association with identity politics. Many Brahmins and Chhetris, the dominant caste groups, fear they will lose out from the introduction of ethnic quotas and federal restructuring. But organised resistance is limited and fragmented. Open opposition only comes from a fringe of the political left which fears Nepal’s unity. Several Chhetri organisations are not against federalism itself but want to defend their group’s interests in the restructuring process. Pro-monarchy groups and the Hindu right are less concerned with federalism than with the republic and secularism. But given the common uneasiness with the redefinition of Nepali nationalism, a broader conservative alliance is a distinct possibility.

The structure emerging from the Constituent Assembly, federal but with a strong centre, offers a feasible compromise. If the NC overcomes its aversion to provinces named after ethnic and regional groups, the new constitution will offer important symbolic recognition of Nepal’s cultural diversity. In combination with the language rights and proportional representation in administration and government envisaged, this would go a long way towards meeting popular aspirations among ethnic and regional groups. The fact that the draft offers little scope for preferential rights beyond proportional representation as well as strong individual rights provisions should allay Brahmin and Chhetri fears of future discrimination. Not promulgating the constitution in time or deferring a decision on federalism, however, could spark serious unrest.

Kathmandu/Brussels, 13 January 2011

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-asia/nepal/199-nepal-identity-politics-and-federalism.aspx

Nepal Peace and Development Strategy

Nepal Peace and Development Strategy

Nepal Peace and Development Strategy: A contribution to development planning from Nepal’s international development partners

Nepal’s international development partners are committed to supporting Nepal’s peace process. In this spirit, they have finalized a ‘Peace and Development Strategy’ that has been developed over the course of the last year by a cross-section of local and international actors—from UN agencies, bilateral aid agencies, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and others. The strategy has also benefitted from discussions with different parts of government during its formulation and was presented to the Right Honourable Prime Minister and Nepali political parties on 12 January 2011.

The strategy articulates how development partners could assist Nepal in the years ahead to realize the development agenda embedded in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It makes the case for ensuring development investments are ready, when called upon, to assist with both the short-term challenges as well as the all-important long-term transition issues reflected in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The strategy is, in effect, an ‘offer of support’ by development partners in specific areas that could help Nepal build the kind of peace which will be irreversible.

Using the Comprehensive Peace Agreement as a guidepost, the strategy highlights short-term peace priorities over the next two years and examines how to potentially advance the long-term transition issues articulated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement over the next five years. Importantly, the strategy also looks at how development partners can increase their contribution to peace and development in Nepal by working in different ways.

The strategy identifies 178 specific areas of ongoing or potential support for development partners. These have been compiled into a ‘Plan of Action’ that has been released as a companion document to the strategy. The status of the Action Plan will be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure the actions identified are moved along. Though all actions are contingent upon requests being made by the Government, the Action Plan will help establish a state of readiness for development partners.

In compiling this strategy, the extraordinary challenges and opportunities in the years ahead have been placed in stark relief. The long-term transformational objectives of the CPA contain issues of great complexity and contention with no easy solutions. Development partners are committed to continue working on these issues nonetheless, supporting nationally-led processes. The long-term nature of these issues and the high expectations that surround them suggested Nepal should get started on such long-term undertakings with the minimum of delay.

 

Development Partners

	Delegation of the European Union to Nepal
	United Nations*
	*FAO, ILO, IOM, OCHA, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-HABITAT, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, UNMIN, UNODC, WFP, WHO

Key Documents

• PDS Launch Media Release (English)
  
  Wed, 01/12/2011
• Nepal Peace and Development Strategy 2010-2015
  
  Wed, 01/12/2011
• PDS Action Plan
  
  Wed, 01/12/2011
• PDS Executive Summary (Nepali)
  
  Wed, 01/12/2011
• PDS Launch Media Release (Nepali)
  
  Wed, 01/12/2011

 

Contact

Lach (Patrick) Fergusson

Peace-Building Advisor

UN RCHC Office

PO Box 107, Nepal UN House, Pulchowk, Lalitpur

Tel: 977 01 552 3200 Ext - 1535

Email:lach.fergusson@one.un.org

http://un.org.np/thematicareas/pds

Black Day in present day context

by asmeet Wed Jun 2, 2010 7:45 am NST

What is Black Day? 

On Jestha 18th 2056 VS (Tuesday June 1st, 1999), the Supreme Court passed an unjust verdict regarding the linguistic rights and that day has since been observed as the “Black Day”. The Black day represents the indignation and dissatisfaction of the people towards the prohibitory decision on the linguistic rights.

Eventhough all the mother tongues of Nepal are equal, the "Khas" language had been unjustly dominating. On Shrawan 10th 2054 VS (Friday July 25th, 1997), a board meeting of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City decided to regard Nepala-bhasa as an official language for local legislation. But some tyrant and non-democratic people who regarded Khas language as the only dominating language filed a case against the decision in the Supreme Court.

On 3rd Chaitra 2054 VS (Monday March 16, 1998), under the single bench decision of Judge Hari Chandra Upadhyaya an interim stay order was issued which prohibited the official use of Nepalbhasa (the Newar Language) in KMC. Later on Jestha 10th 2056 VS (Monday May 24, 1999), the Supreme Court passed a verdict prohibiting the use of Nepalbhasa and Maithili language as official languages for local administration. This unjust verdict given by the highest judicial body of the country on Jestha 18 gave way to the annual observation of the Black Day.

The Black Day - then and now...
The Black day which started as a voice for linguistic rights is still held today. For 10 years, Black Day has been observed as a symbol of protest by the Newars and the indigenous communities. But now the controversial constitution of the past has been canceled. The Interim Constitution of Nepal 2063VS (2007) has provision of equal rights to all the mother tongues of Nepal and has declared rights that allows the mother tongues to be used as official languages for local administration and legislation, and any prohibitions on that regard has been uplifted. So, the question may arise - Why do we still need to celebrate the Black Day???

The times have changed. The Constituent Assembly is working to draw a new constitution. The Black Day held for 10 years has now grown and is not just limited to the linguistic rights. The Black Day is now associated with the cultural rights and political rights of the Newars and the indigenous communities. The Newars who started the street protests for linguistic rights have now continued to demanding for autonomy and self governance.

It is a matter of common realization that the language policy based on political domination has deprived the Newars and the indigenous peoples from their political rights. So, the demand arising in association with the linguistic rights is for the political rights. The enemies of -democratic groups who once stood against the linguistic rights in
the past have now been seen to be standing against the cultural and political rights. The inference we can derive is that once we achieve the political rights, the linguistic rights will spontaneously come into being. The political rights of indigenous community will automatically incorporate the linguistic rights.

The Interim Constitution has declared all the mother tongues as national languages but the ones with autocratic mentality have been hindering its implementation in practice. On the contrary, they are still active in suppressing these mother tongues whenever and wherever possible. An example is preventing our political rights.

This is why, the Black Day still has relevance, and still represents the protests for our rights. The protests, demonstrations and movements by the indigenous communities with regard to their political rights have reached new heights, and importantly at a time when the new constitution is being drafted. However, there are still those active against the political rights of the indigenous communities. There are political leaders who have been providing a silent support to autocracy and tyranny.

Today is the most vital of times, in order to silence the autocrats, the tyrants and non-democrats and to establish our political, cultural and linguistic rights via the new constitution. With this regard, only after the establishment of the political, cultural and linguistic rights of the indigenous communities with assurance of autonomy and self governance, under the new constitution, will there be justice to the Black Day - 18th Jestha 2056 VS.

http://www.sancharnepal.com/p8429-black-day-in-present-day-context

NEFIN banda passes off peacefully; 1000 cadres rounded up

EKANTIPUR REPORT
KATHMANDU, AUG 15 2010 07:20 - The one-day nationwide vehicular strike called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) to press for a timely constitution passed off peacefully on Sunday, despite a few reports of vandalism and clashing. Vehicles began to ply the road in the evening after the banda was over at 5.
NEFIN Chairman Rajkumar Lekhi said the strike called to pressurise for new constitution and ending the political deadlock passed off peacefully. He informed that around 1000 cadres were detained across the nation during the course of banda.
“Our strike was supported from several quarters,” said Lekhi talking to eKantipur after the strike, “The banda remained peaceful despite minor clashes in some places including Kathmandu.”
The NEFIN, which is the umbrella organisation of Indigenous group, has decided to publicise further agitation programmes to pressurise for the peace and statute-drafting processes. For that, the NEFIN has convened a meeting for Tuesday.
Life paralysed nationwide
Normal life throughout the nation was affected due to the strike.
Academic institutions, industries and market places remained shut countrywide from early today. NEFIN cadres staged demonstrations in major thoroughfares of the Capital including Bajalu, Kalanki, Koteshwor, Kalimati, Baneshwor, Minbhawan, Chabahil and Bouddha.
As the agitating NEFIN cadres vandalised some vehicles plying the streets, clashes ensued in some places.
Four vehicles—three taxis and a private car—were vandalised in Shantinagar and Baneshwor, Traffic Police informed.
Dozens of NEFIN cadres, including Secretary General Ang Kaji Sherpa, were detained by the police, Chairman Raj Kumar Lekhi informed.
Sherpa, along with NEFIN vice chairman and some cadres, were detained at Bouddha Police Circle. 
However, some motorcycles, taxis and vehicles were seen plying in some places of the valley.
NEFIN cadres, who had been obstructing transportation at Satdobato, have been taken into custody by the police. Police resumed transportation in the area. 
Vehicles en route to Kathmandu and those going out of valley have come to a standstill.  
Bardia, Udayapur, Chitwan, Dhakuta, Banke, Bardia, Kailali, Kanchanpur, and Dang, among others, have worn a deserted look owing to the banda.
A motorcycle was vandalised and some NEFIN men have been detained by the police in Udayapur district.
NEFIN called for a one-day strike to pressurise the Constituent Assembly (CA) and the political parties to draft the new constitution at the earliest, and safeguard the rights of the indigenous people in it.
88 NEFIN cadres arrested in Capital
Kathmandu Metropolitan Police arrested at least 88 persons from various places in the capital for their involvement in vandalism of vehicles during the course of demonstration on Sunday as part of the one-day strike.
Unlike in the Banda called by major political parties, especially the UCPN (Maoist), a substantial number of vehicles were seen plying the streets of the Capital from early today, defying the strike.
According to the Metropolitan Commissioner’s Office Kathmandu, 63 persons were arrested from Kathmandu and 25 from Laliptur.
Some of them were arrested while they were pelting stones at moving vehicles, but most of them were detained on charge of obstructing the road.
The demonstrators vandalised four cabs in Baneshwor area two each at Kagtyani temple and Shantinagar gate respectively.
Police said, except those involved in vandalism, all of the NEFIN supporters arrested will be released by this evening.
 In Gaighat, the headquarters of Udayapur district, the agitating NEFIN cadres vandalised a motorbike. Normal life in the district was crippled by the strike.
Over two dozen motorcycles have been taken control of by the agitators, Police said.
According to the police, the motorbike (Ba 1 Pa 8468) belonging to District Animal Office, Udayapur was vandalised while the office chief, Dr Devnarayan Singh, was on his way to take part in a conference at Regional Directorate.
Likewise, the strike partly affected the main town of Dhankuta district. All the vehicles heading for nearby districts such as Bhojpur, Terhathum and Sankhusabha were left stranded.
According to District Education Officer Jhum Prasad Rai, students were forced to bear the brunt of the strike due to the obstruction of vehicular movement.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/08/15/top-story/nefin-banda-passes-off-peacefully-1000-cadres-rounded-up/320530/

Transport strike cripples normal life nationwide

 Added At:  2010-08-15 1:15 PM     Last Updated At: 2010-08-15 1:24 PM


RSS

KATHMANDU: The transport strike enforced by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) has affected normal life across the country on Sunday.

NEFIN organised the transport strike to press the government to fulfill their demands including, among others, the guarantee of the rights of the indigenous nationalities in the new constitution and implementation of the past agreements reached between the indigenous body and the government.

The transport strike crippled normal life in the capital city since the morning today. People were seen walking to their workplaces as no public and private transport services were allowed to ply on the road. Shops and public marketplaces are also closed in the town.

NEFIN said it is organising a nation-wide blockade and transport strike as part of its month-long movement for securing the rights of the indigenous nationalities. It has also put forward a 20-point demand. Among other things, NEFIN has also been calling on the parties to focus on taking the peace process and the constitution-writing to logical conclusion.

The first national convention of the District Coordination Council of NEFIN held on July 7, 8 and 9 had decided to launch a month-long rights-based campaign.

Chitwan – Life in Chitwan district as well as its neighbouring districts has been affected since the morning due to the transport strike. Activists of NEFIN held demonstrations and obstructed vehicular movement at different places in Narayangadh since early morning today.

The activists have even barred rickshaws and bicycles from operating. The Narayangadh-Mugling, Hetaunda-Narayangadh and Narayangadh-Butwal sections of the highways which otherwise remain busy on normal days wore a deserted look.

Gorakha – The transport strike at the call of NEFIN has adversely affected the life of the general public here. Buses plying from here to different destinations across the country did not ply their service today. NEFIN activists assembled at different places in the district are preventing vehicles from operating.

Butwal- Normal life in Rupandehi and Palpa districts as well as neighbouring districts has been hit by the transport strike organised by NEFIN today.



Transport services in different towns and villages in Rupandehi district have been halted. As a result, people going to work are facing inconvenience travelling to different destination.

Similarly, the transport strike has affected life in the hilly districts of Gulmi, and Arghakhanchi and the Tarai districts of Kapilbastu and Nawalparasi in Lumbini Zone.

Schools, colleges and factories in Nawalparasi are closed due to the transport strike, as per a report from Kawasoti in the district. The students appearing in the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) supplementary examinations have been greatly inconvenienced due to the transport strike. They were seen walking hurriedly to the exam centres.

Itahari - Normal life in Sunsari district has been affected due to the NEFIN-called transport closure. Activists of NEFIN assembled at different places are preventing vehicles from operating, it is learnt.

Tulasipur – The transport strike at the call of NEFIN has affected normal life in Dang district. Public transport vehicles and private vehicles have stayed off the roads throughout the district due to the strike, it is learnt.

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Transport+strike+cripples+normal+life+nationwide+&NewsID=253752&a=3

Indigenous group calls general strike in Nepal

(AFP) – 6 hours ago

KATHMANDU — A group representing Nepal's indigenous communities brought much of the country to a standstill on Sunday to protest against the parliament's failure to draft a new national constitution.

Shops and offices closed and most vehicles remained off the roads across Nepal, where Sunday is usually a working day, after the group called a nationwide general strike.

Police said they had detained 60 people in the capital, Kathmandu, where some vehicles were vandalised, although the protest was mostly peaceful.

"We want the political parties to get serious about writing a new constitution for the country," said Raj Kumar Lekhi, chairman of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities.

"We want them to guarantee rights for Nepal's ethnic minorities."

Nepal's parliament was elected in May 2008 with a two-year mandate to write a new national constitution and complete the peace process that began when the civil war between Maoist rebels and the state ended in 2006.

It failed to complete either task on time and in May lawmakers voted to extend the deadline for 12 months, but little progress has been made since then.

The indigenous communities want the new charter to enshrine their rights after decades of discrimination in Nepal, where they have long been excluded from national politics.

Lekhi accused police of beating up activists and making unnecessary arrests. Police said those detained would likely be released uncharged at the end of the day.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jl9g2bMAQJF0Ti1pXpwep7nh8Ujg

The Himalayan Times - NEFIN to enforce chakkajam on Sunday - Nepal News, News on Nepal, News of Nepal, Nepali News, Nepalese News

The Himalayan Times - NEFIN to enforce chakkajam on Sunday - Nepal News, News on Nepal, News of Nepal, Nepali News, Nepalese News

Declaration by High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/cfsp/116122.pdf

“No room for complacency, indigenous peoples continue to suffer,” says UN human rights chief

Media centre

“No room for complacency, indigenous peoples continue to suffer,” says UN human rights chief

The following statement has been issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay,
to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August 2010)

GENEVA – “We have cause to celebrate the progress made in turning human rights into a reality for indigenous peoples, but this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is also an occasion to recall that there is no room for complacency. The continuing violations of the rights of indigenous peoples, in all regions of the world, deserve our utmost attention and action.
The gap between the principles of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples* and the reality remains wide, as indigenous peoples continue to suffer discrimination, marginalisation in such fields as health and education, extreme poverty, disregard for their environmental concerns, displacement from their traditional lands and exclusion from effective participation in decision-making processes. It is particularly disconcerting that those who work to correct these wrongs are, all too often, persecuted for their human rights advocacy.
In a number of countries, new tools have been created to give voice to indigenous peoples in decision-making and to stamp out human rights violations. We are also encouraged by the fact that support for the Declaration keeps expanding, including in the countries that originally voted against this remarkable document.
However, we should redouble our efforts to build a true ‘Partnership in action and dignity’ – the theme given by the General Assembly to the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People – as we work together towards full application of the rights affirmed in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples of the world.
We need to bring the rights and dignity of those who are suffering most to the centre of our efforts. This requires changes in practices, but we also need improved laws and institutions, without which advances are not sustainable.
On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to translate the words of the Declaration into effective action. Keeping this promise is our obligation.”
(*) Check the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf?OpenElement
Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Media Unit
Xabier Celaya, Information Officer: + 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org

Indigenous Peoples’ Issues More Prominent than Ever on Global Agenda, But Some Statistics Alarming, Says Secretary-General in Message for International Day

6 August 2010

Secretary-General SG/SM/13049  HR/5027  OBV/899

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Indigenous Peoples’ Issues More Prominent than Ever on Global Agenda, But Some

Statistics Alarming, Says Secretary-General in Message for International Day

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, in New York, 9 August:

The world’s indigenous peoples have preserved a vast amount of humanity’s cultural history.  Indigenous peoples speak a majority of the world’s languages, and have inherited and passed on a wealth of knowledge, artistic forms and religious and cultural traditions.  On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we reaffirm our commitment to their well-being.

The landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, lays out a framework for Governments to use in strengthening relationships with indigenous peoples and protecting their human rights.  Since then, we have seen more Governments working to redress social and economic injustices, through legislation and other means, and indigenous peoples’ issues have become more prominent on the international agenda than ever before.

But we must do even more.  Indigenous peoples still experience racism, poor health and disproportionate poverty.  In many societies, their languages, religions and cultural traditions are stigmatized and shunned.  The first-ever United Nations report on the State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in January 2010 set out some alarming statistics.  In some countries, indigenous peoples are 600 times more likely to contract tuberculosis than the general population.  In others, an indigenous child can expect to die 20 years before his or her non-indigenous compatriots.

The theme of this year’s Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is indigenous filmmakers, who give us windows into their communities, cultures and history.  Their work connects us to belief systems and philosophies; it captures both the daily life and the spirit of indigenous communities.  As we celebrate these contributions, I call on Governments and civil society to fulfil their commitment to advancing the status of indigenous peoples everywhere.

* *** *

---

For information media • not an official record

PM, EU extend support to indigenous peoples' day

Added At:  2010-08-09 2:02 PM

   Last Updated At: 2010-08-09 3:06 PM

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THT Online

KATHMANDU: The 16th International Indigenous Peoples’ Day (IIPD) is being observed in the country, with various programmes and rallies and messages from various national and international organisations on Monday.

The IIPD main organising committee took out rallies in the major thoroughfares in the Kathmandu Valley. Various indigenous communities staged cultural programmes in Kathmandu and elsewhere.

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), the umbrella organisation of the indigenous peoples’ bodies, has voiced its concerns for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in the country.

“The indigenous peoples in the country should get an opportunity to participate in decision making processes, besides being ensured their rights to self-determination, secularism, federalism, among others,” said Raj Kumar Lekhi, the NEFIN president.

NEEFIN has further unveiled a month-long programme of agitation to press the policymakers to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples in the new constitution.



Indigenous people participate in a cultural programme on the occasion of the 16th World Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Kathmandu on Monday, August 9, 2010. (Photo: Rajendra Manandhar THT Online)

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, in his greetings circulated to the media, has said the government is extremely committed to the issue that no community on the basis ethnicity, language, religion, culture, gender and region is discriminated.

The rights of the indigenous people as per their aspiration will be incorporated in the new constitution, PM Nepal added.

“The special day would motivate all the indigenous people to preserve and expose their unique cultures and traditions and help to create belief, unity and closeness among the people of all the caste, creed, religion and community” the PM’s message read.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative on behalf of European Union, issued a statement from EU headquarters in Brussels, stressing on the enormous contribution made by indigenous peoples in sharing their tradition and knowledge with the world's cultural heritage and to the sustainable development of our planet.

Ashton also said it is now time to reflect on what has been done to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and guarantee them equal treatment, and how much more remains to be done, Ashton said.

In the statement, the EU also renewed its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=PM%2C+EU+extend+support+to+indigenous+peoples%27+day&NewsID=252922

Indigenous people up the ante | Top Stories | ekantipur.com

Indigenous people up the ante | Top Stories | ekantipur.com

The Himalayan Times - NEFIN questions SRC relevance - Nepal News, News on Nepal, News of Nepal, Nepali News, Nepalese News

The Himalayan Times - NEFIN questions SRC relevance - Nepal News, News on Nepal, News of Nepal, Nepali News, Nepalese News

Lama elected indigenous journalist association's new chairman

http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/8-news-in-brief/5302-lama-is-indigenous-journalist-associations-new-chairman.html

Nepal ratifies UN convention on intangible cultural heritage

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 09:27


Nepal has ratified a United Nations convention designed to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, such as folklore, oral traditions, social rituals and the performing arts.

Issuing a press statement Tuesday, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) congratulated Nepal on becoming the 125th State Party to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

By ratifying the Convention, the Nepalese Government commits itself, at the international level, to safeguard the rich and diverse living heritage of the country, UNESCO mentioned in its statement.

“This is a great step as it demonstrates the Government’s commitment to preserve and promote the diverse living heritage of the people of Nepal, where cultural heritage is largely cultural practice, and where cultural practice means cultural identity,” said Axel Plathe, UNESCO’s representative in Nepal.

The main purposes of the convention, which was adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2003, are to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, to ensure respect for it, to raise awareness about its importance and of mutual appreciation, and to provide for international cooperation and assistance in those fields.

Ratifying governments recognize that cultural heritage is not limited to material manifestations, such as monuments and objects, but must be extended to the traditions and living expressions inherited from ancestors.

It binds governments to acknowledge their roles in international cooperation and responsibilities towards implementing the provisions of the Convention through adoption of necessary legislative, regulatory and other appropriate measures.nepalnews.com


http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/7016-nepal-ratifies-un-convention-on-intangible-cultural-heritage.html

Nepal tribes to raise own flag in Geneva

http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?odas=1024&giella1=eng

KATHMANDU -- The world will be watching from this week as the United Nation`s human rights body evaluates Nepal`s unelected palace government but many of this nation`s indigenous people will have one eye focused on a separate meeting.

The Commission on Human Rights is expected to gauge the steps taken by the regime of King Gyanendra to improve human rights since the 2005 session. There, member nations decided to install a rights office in the capital Kathmanduto monitor violations that increased after the monarch seized power Feb. 1, 2005.

The commission in Geneva will base its analysis on an extra-long report prepared by Nepal office representative Ian Martin. But missing from that assessment is consideration of human rights violations against indigenous people, according to one organisation.

"The government and other human rights organisations are submitting reports but they are excluding violating against indigenous people so we are raising these issues," says Shankar Limbu, president of the Lawyers Association for the Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP).

Nepal recognises 59 such "nationalities" that it says make up 37 percent of the 25 million people in this small South Asian nation but others estimate the groups could account for as much as half of Nepal`s people.

Squeezed between Asian giants China and India, Nepal has been gripped by a violent Maoist uprising for the past decade. Roughly 13,000 people have been killed, mostly villagers caught in the crossfire as the rebels -- who say they are fighting for social justice and to erase an inherited monarchy -- have extended their reach over three-fourths of the countryside.

"There are a large number of indigenous people being killed and abducted; some are used as human shields. None of the human rights groups are raising this issue," said Limbu in the small LAHURNIP meeting room Friday evening, where a half-dozen members worked to finish the report a stone`s throw away from the parliament whose doors were locked in 2002.

They will send the paper to the UN`s special rapporteur for the rights of indigenous peoples, who will submit it to a special session of the six-week-long Commission that opens Monday.

The impoverished mid-western hills from where the Maoists emerged with their homemade guns and pressure-cooker bombs a decade ago are home to a large indigenous population, which is said to comprise a disproportionate fraction of rebel forces (6,000-7,000 full-time fighters and 20,000-25,000 militia, according to 2005 army estimates).

Rebel leaders (few of them indigenous) have carefully couched their discourse in the language of liberation for tribal peoples, along with freedom for women and Dalits (so-called untouchables) from the Hindu-dominated state. A half-dozen or so forces that fight in the name of various indigenous groups have been born from the rebellion but their motivations, aims and links to the Maoists are unclear.

In his report, the U.N. office`s Martin said "Nepal has experienced gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in the course of its insurgency and by security forces in the state`s response".

There is "greater international concern (over Nepal) than at any time since Feb. 1, 2005", Martin added at a public discussion of the report here last month.

For LAHURNIP, the international community is "very important", says Limbu. "The government doesn`t listen to the Nepali public very much so the international voice can have an impact. That`s why we`re submitting this report."

Many other human rights groups are expected to attend the Commission meeting to pressure members to take stronger action against the king`s government.

Late in 2005 the Nepal office of the UN`s International Labour Organisation (ILO) critiqued the government`s efforts to reduce poverty among indigenous people.

It accused the authorities, and Nepal`s large donor community, of: "insufficient awareness of indigenous issues and their specific experience of discrimination; lack of development and under-funding of appropriate institutional structures and lack of participation and consultation of indigenous peoples in the design and implementation of poverty reduction and development initiatives".

One of LAHURNIP`s aims is for the government to ratify the ILO`s Convention 169, an international law that calls on states to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people. "If the government ratifies this, the indigenous people will be included in the decision-making process. They will have to be consulted before the government takes any step that affects them," says Limbu.

Even the development process itself sometimes penalises indigenous groups, he adds. In recent years, for example, the Department of Forestry has passed control of tracts of land to community forest users groups, "banning Sherpa communities from grazing their animals there. So they are compelled to take their animals toTibet to graze and they must pay taxes to do so," according to Limbu.

While various past governments have taken steps to improve the lives of indigenous peoples, LAHURNIP argues that such provisions, like providing mother tongue education, should be entrenched in law as rights so that they cannot be easily removed.

Nepal`s umbrella group of indigenous communities, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), has publicly supported the opposition-civil society movement to rollback the royal takeover. But last month the indigenous Newar community (known as the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley) went a step further when a dozen of its organisations called for a boycott of local elections.

Newar National Forum President Malla K Sundar told IPS that people heeded the call because it was presented as a step toward gaining Newari rights. Equal language and religious rights as well as self-rule top the community`s demands, he added.

"We want self-rule for indigenous communities on their own historic lands and where they are the dominant population", not on the basis of whether they form the majority community today but based on their historic relationship with the land, said Sundar. The LAHURNIP report does not make such a demand but it does call for compensation for lands that were given to indigenous communities by royal order hundreds of years ago but nationalised by later governments. "Today, indigenous people within their homelands have no land," said Limbu.

Marty Logan, IPS
Published: 19.03.2006
Published by: Magne Ove Varsi