Activities and Plans for the Year 2008-2009

Constitutional Assembly (CA) and the Future of Nepal

A Radio Discussion Program

NMDC is co-ordination with Nepal FM 91.8 is organizing a Radio Discussion Programme on "The CA and the Future of Nepal".

The Program is broadcasted at 7-8 AM, every Saturday from Nepal FM and from October, 11 FM Stations in the districts.

This is a live discussion program in the participation with CA Members constitutional expert and journalist on current issues on constitution making and state-restructuring supported by PAS, the US Embassy.

Health Journalism Training Focused on Reproductive Health (19-23 July) 2008, Jhapa

NMDC organized a 5- day residential training on Health Journalism focused on Reproductive health to the journalists of eastern region in Jhapa from 19 to23 July 2008. This is the fourth out of the five planned trainings on Health Journalism focused on reproductive health.

NMDC in support with FES Nepal is organizer a one-day workshop on "Addressing Social Changes in a situation of on-going conflict in Nepal. The program will be held in August, 2008 in Kathmandu.

"BUILDING SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN A SITUATION OF ONGOING CONFLICT IN NEPAL" KATHMANDU,
SEPTEMBER 20, 2008

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVE AND PROGRAM

Theme of the Workshop: Building Sustainable Peace in a Situation of Ongoing Conflict in Nepal

Background
The signing of peace accord and the consequent political process has moved Nepal from the armed struggle to transition management, such as election of Constituent Assembly (CA), formation of government and drafting of the constitution through CA. Delay in the management of political transition has, however, unleashed new conflict lines. The formation of new CPN (Maoist) led government marked the decline of hitherto existing consensus politics and the beginning of majoritarian one with the Nepali Congress acting as an opposition political party.
The armed struggle of over 22 interest group, separatist movement, and assertion of ethnic and territorial self-determination by Madhesi parties, minority rights based movement, language and national-dress movement and different types of freedom movements have complicated the efforts of government to govern. Over preoccupation of major political parties with the struggle for power and position sidelined many of the critical issues from policy agenda as well as execute the mandate of CA to draft a new constitution within 2 years, restructure the state, establish inclusive democracy and sustainable peace. As a result, national peace process, national unity and issues of real change in the nature of political culture through economic development and education are over shadowed.
How can Nepal address the need of public for social changes in the context of ongoing conflict at various levels of society? How can the agents of critical masses have positive effect on the drivers of conflict and transform the centrifugal pulls of subsidiary identities for particularisms into a national identity? What are the rational mechanisms for conflict transformation and peace building in Nepal? How to prevent the potentiality of future conflicts? How should they be addressed and how can Nepal end the on-going conflict and build a peaceful, just, democratic and prosperous Nepal? Answers to these and other relevant questions demand critical discussion. Taking into account of the current emerging ongoing conflict in Nepal, NMDC  in cooperation with FES Nepal is planning to organize a one day workshop on - "Building Sustainable Peace in a Situation of Ongoing Conflict in Nepal."

Objective
The main objective of the workshop is to address on sustainable peace building process in a situation of on-going conflict in Nepal.
Workshop Summary
NMDC plans to organize a one day workshop in the agenda on "Building Sustainable Peace in a Situation of Ongoing Conflict in Nepal", involving important stakeholders-- political leaders, Peace Secretariat officials, civil society leaders, academics from TU and KU, social scientists and journalists. Social scientist and media expert and academics shall present two well-prepared theme papers in which there will be open and frank discussion. Comments, suggestions and opinions raised in the workshop will be documented and incorporated to make the paper an important document in supporting in peace building process in Nepal. The findings will be published in FES and NMDC websites and Bulletins and submitted to the relevant Ministry.