Joined a new initiative today, a network of IDEALISTS :)
http://www.idealist.org/ICA/root/en/Static/TheVision/default
...and it it so true; "The people that says it can not be done should not stand in the way for the people already doing it".
onsdag 18 november 2009
tisdag 17 mars 2009
A very brief history of Nepal's road to democracy
If you are anything like me, the recent history of Nepal might not have been up there with your favourite subjects. Even as a student of international relations with an eager mind and a strong belief in everybodys basic human rights(sieved through a Western sieve but still) and even though I have visited Nepal on a number of occasions, my knowledge is at this stage basic.
But the good news is that it will be remedied right here and now.
If you are learning any Nepali today, Jaana Andolan ii is important as it is the name of the popular uprising against the king in the summer of 2006. The hope was high then, slightly less so now. I turn to a recent interview with Ian Martin, head of the United Nation mission in Nepal(UNMIN)who opened the office of the High Commisssioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)in 2005. He says:
I still think that the process has to be seen extremely positively. It would be very hard to find another peace process where the national actors themselves negotiated an end to a 10-year conflict, the election to an elected Constituent Assembly (CA) and a peaceful transition to a republic. That’s an extraordinary achievement by any standards.
He goes on to talk about how he feels that the role of the UN encouraged people to assert their democratic rights. Then he says something that I personally find very important namely that the UNMIN presence had a value beyond supporting the elections and monitoring arms as an indiacation of the concern of the international community for this process and the fact that the actors themselves were conscious of being observed by the international community.
Yes, the peace process is still fragile between the Maoists and the state. There is a new constitution being drafted as I write this, which is aiming to include all different groups. There are questions to be solved in the democracy process such as the future the issue of former combatants as well as the future of a variety of armed groups. And there are of course the issues of rights and legal processes to come for different victims, sometimes organized in vistims groups but often not.
But the good news is that it will be remedied right here and now.
If you are learning any Nepali today, Jaana Andolan ii is important as it is the name of the popular uprising against the king in the summer of 2006. The hope was high then, slightly less so now. I turn to a recent interview with Ian Martin, head of the United Nation mission in Nepal(UNMIN)who opened the office of the High Commisssioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)in 2005. He says:
I still think that the process has to be seen extremely positively. It would be very hard to find another peace process where the national actors themselves negotiated an end to a 10-year conflict, the election to an elected Constituent Assembly (CA) and a peaceful transition to a republic. That’s an extraordinary achievement by any standards.
He goes on to talk about how he feels that the role of the UN encouraged people to assert their democratic rights. Then he says something that I personally find very important namely that the UNMIN presence had a value beyond supporting the elections and monitoring arms as an indiacation of the concern of the international community for this process and the fact that the actors themselves were conscious of being observed by the international community.
Yes, the peace process is still fragile between the Maoists and the state. There is a new constitution being drafted as I write this, which is aiming to include all different groups. There are questions to be solved in the democracy process such as the future the issue of former combatants as well as the future of a variety of armed groups. And there are of course the issues of rights and legal processes to come for different victims, sometimes organized in vistims groups but often not.
Non partisanship -the art of not taking sides in a conflict
Not taking sides when working with protecting human rights can be tricky. So before heading of to Nepal to join the PBI team I already have set aside time to once again look at what it might mean for me. Thinking it might be helpful to see if the other teams that have been in Nepal since 2005 has some thoughts about this, I look through PBI material.
PBI bases its work on a philosophy of non-violence and work only with groups and organisations that do not argue for violent strategies or use violence. PBI are strict in abiding to the laws of the countries they work in.
OK, fair enough. Nothing strange there. I can see that it might not be so clearcut in the field. After all we are humans. What I do know is that even though my instinct might lead me to feel that violence is a good method, I can't seriously consider the option of 'hitting somebody in order to get them to understand that hitting is wrong'.
PBI does not take part in a conflict, but act inpartially towards the different actors. PBI are pro human rights and want by its international presence support the civil society so that they, by themselves, can create their future. PBI therefor does not take any initiatives to support a group but wait until a request comes in.
After reading this a couple of times I start to wonder abou the universality of human rights. And of different aspects rights such as individual and group rights. Then a wonder about how being non-partisan does not per definition mean that you are non-partial, it means something more. And this needs to be explored. Preferably before field work.
PBI bases its work on a philosophy of non-violence and work only with groups and organisations that do not argue for violent strategies or use violence. PBI are strict in abiding to the laws of the countries they work in.
OK, fair enough. Nothing strange there. I can see that it might not be so clearcut in the field. After all we are humans. What I do know is that even though my instinct might lead me to feel that violence is a good method, I can't seriously consider the option of 'hitting somebody in order to get them to understand that hitting is wrong'.
PBI does not take part in a conflict, but act inpartially towards the different actors. PBI are pro human rights and want by its international presence support the civil society so that they, by themselves, can create their future. PBI therefor does not take any initiatives to support a group but wait until a request comes in.
After reading this a couple of times I start to wonder abou the universality of human rights. And of different aspects rights such as individual and group rights. Then a wonder about how being non-partisan does not per definition mean that you are non-partial, it means something more. And this needs to be explored. Preferably before field work.
tisdag 10 mars 2009
First steps towards Nepal
Mas Franch took us in two weeks ago. This beautiful socially aware collective in Catalonia, Spain. Mas Franch was also the place for the PBI (Peace Brigade International)training that led to me being one of 14 internationals being accepted to go to Nepal and work with human rights later on this year.
Right now I am a little confused, but funnily enough very focused at the same time. You know that feeling when you kind of know you are not really ready for a task yet, but somehow you know that hour brain will kick into gear when needed. That is how it feels.
September 8 is the magic date when I will land in Kathmandu and start my language training, then I will be placed and start work in november and beleive me - I will need the time to get ajusted. This is do not say lightly, anyone who has been peeking into the homepage of PBI realizes that this will be 'my year of no sleep' but working to stop the abuse, crimes against human rights in the region will surely make up for it. Not being a dreamer I have very few illusions that we make more than a dent in reality as they know it in Nepal but one has to try. I probably do more good there than watching Angelina och Clive in awe slugging it out in Beyond borders.
You are welcome to come along for the ride, to experience life of field work. Your comment and questions are even welcome, but think before your post - I will read them all :)
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