Our Voice for Our Rights
About the Project
Beyond the challenges of their physical or mental impairments, people with disabilities in Nepal suffer from the barriers presented by society that exclude and disadvantage them by not recognizing their rights, needs and potentials. In regions like Huml and Mugu, where poverty is widespread, people with disabilities are most disadvantaged, Very limited numbers of PWDs have access to basic services such as claiming state benefits payments, health, education and almost 95% PWDs are illiterate. The stigma attached to disability prevents participation in social and community life and also impacts family members. This results in non-existent participation of PWDs in employment, governance, decision making activities.
The project will address are those of discrimination against PWDs, the negative socio-cultural biases linked to disability which forces people with disabilities and their families to hide family members in shame and corresponding to advocate for their fundamental rights, which are protected in national and international laws applicable in Nepal. The project partners will demonstrate to the community that PWDs can learn and participate in society in the decision making, implementation and government plans. High emphasis will be placed on making the community and the local duty bearers aware of rights of PWDs and need to respect them and implement local policy that ensure the implementation of those rights, leading to the fulfillment of their active participation and inclusion in society and the government.
Project Objectives
- Increasing DPOs capacity to participate in advocacy and decision-making processes regarding development and rights (including processes related to COVID-19
- Promoting the inclusion of person with disabilities in government program such as education, health and justice or and in budget planning and implementation (including programs and budgets related to COVID-19
- Advocating to ensure inclusion of a disabilities perspective in governmental implementation and/or monitoring of CRPD
- Building institutional capacity of HEAD Nepal (OPD) through new policy development and revising existing policies.
Works Undertaken
– HEAD Nepal organized 2-events of orientation on SDGs, UNCRPD, and National policies related to disability rights on 4th of June, 2022 in Gamgadi, Mugu and 27th of September, 2022 in Simkot of Humla. 30 DPOs/CSOs representatives and members of advocacy groups were trained. Similarly, one day training on disability inclusive advocacy skills for DPOs and CSOs were conducted on 5th of June, 2022 in Gamgadi, Mugu and 28th September, 2022 in Simkot, Humla. Altogether, 40 DPOs/CSOs were trained on advocacy skill. Likewise, the project team organized Consultation meeting with DPOs/CSOs and advocacy groups to prepare and implement advocacy plan on 10th November and 9th December 2022 of Humla and Mugu respectively. 53 participants (DPOs/CSOs and advocacy groups representatives) participated in the consultation meeting and identified the issues of people with disabilities. Additionally, DPOs/CSOs and advocacy groups/network made aware of the rights provisioned by government for people with disabilities and trained them about advocacy process, need of advocacy for people with disabilities etc.
HEAD Nepal conducted 2 days capacity building training for people with disabilities on their rights (education, services, health, including budget and program from local government) from 25th July – 1st August 2022, in Kharpunath Rural Municipality, Humla and 14th July – 7th August 2022 in Soru Rural Municipality, Mugu. Altogether 237 (120 from Kharpunath RM and 117 from Soru RM) PWDs were trained on their rights and understanding disability. Additionally, 22 local representatives and family members of PWDs participated in the training. Upon the conduction of 2-days of capacity building training, 11 self-help advocacy groups in all 11 wards and 2 RM level networks were formed with the representation of PWDs. Once the groups/networks are formulated, the project team organized 2 days capacity building training of disability advocacy groups/networks on effective advocacy skills from 10th – 25th August in Kharpunath RM and 10th – 27th August in Soru RM. Additional, one-day of training in the same area was provided to the key members (coordinator and active members) of advocacy groups on the occasion of the International Day of persons with disabilities from 31st November to 1st of December 2022 in Kharpunath RM and 9th -10th December 2022 in Soru RM. Moreover, 2 times follow up meeting of the advocacy groups/networks were organized to review and implement the advocacy plan prepared by the groups/networks themselves.
The project team organized assessment of the policy in local government to understand its inclusion status on 9th June and 25th March 2022 in Kharpunath RM, Humla and Soru RM, Mugu respectively. There are altogether 55 participants from local stakeholders, RM representatives, PWDs disabilities and their family members. Also, the assessment of accessibility status of the workplace in both RMs was carried out. It was done on the basis of assessment tools that were prepared. Similarly, environmental accessibility assessment was also carried out. 2 disabilities inclusive monitoring committee was formed on 20th September and 7th November 2022 of Humla and Mugu respectively. There were 23 participants from Humla and 24 from Mugu among them 9 members were selected for the monitoring committee let by the Vice-chairperson of RM. Along with this, we organized 2 times meeting with the disability inclusive monitoring committee on 23rd October and 19th December in Kharpunath and 8th November and 25th December 2022 in Soru RM.
As per DRF/DRAF policy requirement and organizational need of HEAD Nepal, we have prepared and developed a policy on Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH). Several consultation meeting with wide range of stakeholders including HEAD Nepal staff, board, members were organized. This policy is in force from 1st July 2022 applicable for all representatives of HEAD, staffs, beneficiaries, direct stakeholders, volunteers, partners and all individual involved in HEAD Nepal’s work.
Beside this, the existing policies of HEAD Nepal (financial operation, HR management, anti-fraud, anti-bullying, complaint handling mechanism, social media/communication policy, child protection policy etc.) are revised, updated and translated into Nepali language for better and easy access for all.
