Nepal

The Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines held two events to mark the first anniversary of entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. In the afternoon on 1 August a symposium on “women with disability and constitution” highlighted the ongoing peace process and constitution writing process that is underway in Nepal. Mrs. Urmila Aryal, the Minister of Local Development inaugurated the symposium by lighting the Panas and delivering her speech. Neera Adhikari, an officer at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare gave powerful remarks. Ms. Adhikari is the first woman with a disability to become a ministry office in Nepal. Participants heard from a number of other speakers including from Sunita Ghale, a landmine victim.

Following the Symposium, a public outreach event took place that used the “join the team” slogan. Ten members the National Campaign for Peace Building (NCPB) took part in an afternoon of sports and advocacy at a popular public park in Kathmandu. The youth set up a central station, complete with a banner and pamphlets containing information on cluster munitions, and attracted local park-goers to come and learn about the Convention. To emphasize the concept of “Join the Team,” the youth brought out sports equipment, and encouraged the crowd to join in games of badminton, football, and volleyball. While the crowd played the youth continued to educate participants about the cluster munition issue, what Nepal can do to become more active in the ban on cluster munitions, and what Nepali individuals can do to influence their government to be more involved. Over 100 people of all ages approached the youth, learned about the issue, and joined in a sports game or two. Many active participants signed the event’s banner to show their solidarity to the cause. At the end of the day, NCPB was thrilled to see so many fellow Nepalis pushing for their government to “Join the Team” against cluster munitions

Contact: Purna Shova Chitrakar, NCBL, NCBL@mail.com.np

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