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September 19, 2006

Report form Independent Living Center Kathmandu Nepal

I would like to inform you that Independent Living Center Kathmandu Nepal is actively working in the field of Disability. It runs the IL services, events as well as advocacy Programs for the PWDs.

Krishna Gautam
IL Center
Kathmandu

Report

Delegation for draft interim constitution
A. Introduction :

Independent Living Centre Kathmandu (CIL-Kathmandu) has been engaged in advocacy and involved in promoting rights, IL concept for persons with disabilities in Nepal. Independent Living Concept is very new in Nepal considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making processes about policies and programmes, including those directly concern.
The Interim constitution draft committee has submitted the draft interim constitution to the negotiation team of government and Maoist. Hence, the draft is still not finalized. In the draft, the issues and rights of persons with disabilities have not been included properly. So that Independent Living Centre Kathmandu reviewed the draft and strongly demands to the 8 political parties, the members of negotiation team, civil societies and NGOs/INGO to address the following issues:-

･ inclusion of appropriate paragraphs and wordings in the interim constitution

･ 10% representation of PWDs in legislative body to be formed to promulgate the interim constitution
･ 10% reservation of seats for constituent assembly election

Objectives:

The main purpose of the delegation program was to draw the attention of Political Parties, Minister and members of negotiation team, Civil Societies, policy makers, politicians, high level planners, NGOs, INGOs and others on above disability issues and get valuable comments, feedbacks, suggestions as well as support. This type of programs will be continuing in the future for the rights and promoting IL Concept.

Methods:

Independent Living Centre Kathmandu reviewed the draft interim constitution and submitted it to different NGOs and personalities requesting the valuable suggestions, comments and feedback on it. CIL Kathmandu made one delegation team; the members of the delegation team are Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr. Palsang Lama, Mr. Ganesh KC, and Mr. Tek Bdr. Gurung. CIL- Kathmandu took the appointment with all political parties, Ministers and members of government – Maoist Negotiation team, several personalities and NGOs / INGOs. The delegation team visited the following Political parties, ministers and others.

Visited to-
a) CPN Maoist: - (6 Sept- 1:30) the delegation team from Independent Living Center Kathmandu had visited the CPN Maoist Office which is located at Purano Baneswor Kathmandu. The team met Mr. DinaNath Sharma, one of the member of Negotiation team and leader of CPN Maoist. Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha and Mr. Krishna Gautam had put strong demands to address the above issues. The team also argued him to secure the social, economical, political rights in the Interim Constitution. It is the responsible of the state to take the full responsibility of all round rights of PWDs. He agreed and committed to address the voice of PWDs. He also said that there are more than 15000 persons with disabilities within the period of Revolution (JANAYUDDA) and more than 5000 PWDs in Revolution (JANA ANDOLAN) 2006. He said that his party is very much sincere to promote the rights of PWDs. The team submitted the attention letter with reviewed draft interim constitution to Mr. Krishna Bdr. Mahara, Dev Gurung and the president Mr. Prachanda. They were outside the valley so that could not meet them.
b) CPN UML:-( 7 Sept.12) The members from CIL Kathmandu had visited the CPN UML Office which is located at Balkhu Ktm. The team met Mr. Bishnu Poudel, the central committee member of CPN UML. The team demand him to address the issues in Interim Constitution and representation of PWD in Constitution Assembly. He said this demand is taking very seriously and will put it in the Negotiation between Government and Maoist. The team submitted the attention letter to Secretary General Mr. Madhav Nepal and another central committee member through him. They were unable to meet in the right time.
c) Nepali Congress: (7 Sept. 2) The delegation team from CIL Kathmandu had visited Nepali Congress which is located at Sanepa Ktm. The team met Mr. Sovakar Parajuly, the office secretary and submitted the attention letter to Secretary General Mr. K. B. Gurung through him. Mr. Parajuly had committed to relay the message to his leader.
d) Nepali Congress (Democratic) :-( 7 Sept. 4) CIL had visited the Nepali Congress (Democratic) office which is located at Mahrajgunj Ktm. The team met one of the staff of the party. He committed us to relay the documents to President Mr. Sher Bdr. Deuba through Mr. Jeevan Prem Shrestha.
e) Nepal Majdur Kisan Party :-( 11 Sept. 10:15) CIL had visited the Nepal Labor Farmer Party office which is located at Bhaktapur. The team met Mr. Sunil Prajapati, Secretary of Party and member of Interim Constitution Draft Committee. The team argued on issues related with PWDs to address in the interim constituition. We also argued him for the representation of the PWDs in Interim Constitution. He agreed with this issues and committed for the full fill ment of the demands.
f) CPN Janamorcha:-( 11 sept.12:30) CIL visited the CPN Janamorcha which is located Sundhara Ktm. The team met Mr. Dhawa Lama, Bhim Pd Gautam the central committee members. They committed to address our demands in the executive committee of the party and in the Negotiation team too.
g) CPN Bammorcha: - (11 Sept. 3:00) CIL visited the CPN Bammorcha which is located at Dilli Bazar Ktm. We met Mr. Ram Achrya, the office secretary. He agreed and advice our team to get together again after 2 days in the same issues.
h) Nepal Sadbhawona Party (Anandadevi) :-( 12 Sept. 4:00) CIL visited the Nepal Sadbhawona Party which is located at Tripuresowr Ktm. The CIL team met Mr Govindra Chaudhary, the vice Secretary of the party. CIL team requested them to address the issues of PWDs. They remembered the days, when the PWDS and they themselves were together in the revolution. They committed that they will put the demands in the central committee meeting and will strongly put the demands to the Nepal government.

i) Appointment with Ms. Sujata Koirala:-( 6 Sept. 7:30 AM) CIL visited to the residence of Ms Sujata Koirala which is located at Mondikatar Ktm. She is the central committee member of Nepali Congress. She said that the disability issue should give first priority to promote the rights of PWDs. She is fully committed to address these issues in her central committee meeting. CIL submitted the attention letter and reviewed draft to Prime Minister Girja Pd. Koiral through her. She committed us to relay this document to Prime minister. She also gave interested to visit the IL Center too.

j) Meeting with Home Minister: (10 Sept. 7:30 AM) CIL visited the home minister residence at Pulchock Lalitpur. Mr. Krishna Pd. Sitaula is the coordinator of government maoist negotiation team. We argued him to address the given issues in interim constiturion. He committed to address all types of issues of marginalized group. Disability is also one of them. The meeting held about 15 minutes. The IL members Mr. Palsang Lama, Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha and Mr. Ganesh KC also talked to assure the rights of PWDs.

k) Meeting with Labor and Transportation Minister: (11 Sept. 7:30 AM) CIL visited the Labor and Transportation minister Mr. Ramesh Lekhak in his residence. Mr. Lekhak is one of the members of Negotiation team. He also sincerely talked about the issues of PWDs and said that the right of PWDs will be assured in interim constitution. The meeting held about 15 minutes.

l) Meeting with Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister (12 Sept. 7:30 A.M0: CIL visited the tourism and civil aviation minister in his residence. He gave half an hour time to the CIL team. He took seriously the demands put by CIL. He said that the government is sincere to provide all round rights for dignified life. The interim constitution should address the issues of PWDs and he will put the issues in the negotiation team meeting.

m) Submission Demands to Civil Societies and Personalities: CIL has submitted the attention letters, 3 demands and reviewed draft to the civil societies and personalities, different NGOs and INGos to address the issues.

Independent Living Centre Kathmandu is putting the regular pressure to the high level planners, policy makers, civil societies, politicians and others for the protection and promotion of the rights of the persons with disabilities. This kind of pressure and advocacy program will be continuing until the fulfilment of the demands.

Thanking You

Krishna Gautam
IL - Center

Posted by jicafriends at September 19, 2006 06:45 PM

Comments

Posted by: Hasta Gautam at December 16, 2006 04:17 AM

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