Humanist Association Of Nepal (HUMAN)
Submitted by admin on 14 June, 2005 - 12:29.
Contact:
Ganga Prasad SubediPosition:
General SecretaryDetails:
Other email addresses:
upretigopi@yahoo.com and
nepalihumanist@hotmail.com
Mobile: 9841328269
An Introduction of Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN)
HUMAN IS COMMITTED TO SCIENTIFIC RATIONALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN DIGNITY AND FREEDOM, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH SECULAR HUMANISM.
HUMAN IS THE MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION (IHEU) FOR NEPAL
HUMANISM IN NEPAL
During the past seven years of its existence, Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN) has grown into a frontline agency in the nongovernmental sector fighting against superstitions, paranormal practices, fatalism, caste system, untouchability, dowry system and religious and political fundamentalisms in one hand and on the other hand providing unqualified respect for the fundamental human rights of all the citizens and campaigning for secularization and democratization of Nepalese society. The journey thus far was arduous, but equally rewarding in establishing itself as an effective promoter of awareness regarding human rights among the various stakeholders within the civil society and an active lobbyist, particularly for the most deprived and vulnerable sections of the society.
As the world has just entered the 21st century and a new millennium, HUMAN intends to formulate its strategic plan and determine a future course of action for the next ten years (Jun 2004-June 2014). This draft strategic plan is being circulated amongst the partner organizations, donors and colleagues, board members and volunteers of HUMAN and other stakeholders for their open and critical comments and suggestions. The document will be finalized on the basis of the feedback thus received.
The concept of democratic freedom for all and the need for the protection of the weaker and vulnerable groups in a society evolved only recently. It was only five decades ago that human rights were universally recognized as an integral component of human freedom to guide all civilized states. In Nepal, the advent of democracy and restoration of human rights is merely little more than a decade. HUMAN is about to complete seven years of operation working primarily as a humanist and human rights organization. In this important historical juncture, HUMAN considers it relevant to build on its past experience and prepare itself for a more vigorous and effective future.
HUMAN's realization of the need for a renewed commitment and a careful planning of its future actions are based on the following realities:
- Followings the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepal entered a new ear of framing a democratic constitution. Despite the aspiration of various political forces and the civil society and their expressed concern over the secular character of the constitution, the framers of the constitutions could not resist Hindu fundamentalists demand that Nepal be declared a Hindu State. The Hindu fundamentalist forces (including those involved in drafting of the constitution) prevailed in the making of the constitution of the kingdom of Nepal. This is a serious breach of human rationality and the spirit of democratic secularism, the concept of the secular democratic state.
- Superstitious practices and belief have dominated the socio-cultural lives of the people of Nepal from time immemorial. Witch-Hunting, Shamanic practices, Para-normal doctors and healers, Divine and God-men claims are the commonplace phenomena not only in the illiterate and ignorant rural community of Nepal but also in the urban centers. The superstitious practices of various kinds have dehumanized the people at large and their community and have taken the lives of many innocent and ignorant individuals
- Women who constitute two-third of domestic and agriculture labor are subjected to extreme exploitation is disheartening. Child marriage, polygamy and dowry have persisted as a means of oppression, exploitation and discrimination against women. The state of impunity continues in the state behavior resulting in the institutionalization of human rights abuses.
- There is an increasing trend in the utilization and exploitation of child labor. Primary school is still inaccessible to the majority of those below the poverty line. Even if they mange to enroll, the dropout rate of the children of this group is quite high. Because of the feudal patriarchal social setting, the women in general and the female child in particular are discriminated resulting in the unfair treatment of the women and the female child consequently, their access to education, employment, parental property is severely limited.
- Because of the strong Hindu religious, superstitious and fundamentalist belief system handed down from Hindu tradition, Nepali society is still very much rooted in the caste system which discriminate against the communities of the people belonging to the so called scheduled castes or collectively known as the Dalits (untouchables) who have been socially and culturally oppressed from time immemorial. Only a strong humanist and social reform movement can significantly rupture the traditional bondage of Hindu casteism and push the Nepali society towards progressive transformation.
- Dowry, the practice of forced financial and material arrangement to be given by the parents of the bride to the parents of the groom or the bridegroom himself, as an essential condition of the marriage has further socially degraded the lives of women. The financial and material amount is fixed and demanded by the parents of the bridegroom or bridegroom him-self. If the parents of the bride do not fulfill such demands, the marriage cannot take place or even if the marriage takes place, the bride will be subjected to outrageous humiliation, tortured and even deaths. This is a social evil of enormous magnitude in the southern Terai region of Nepal bordering with India. The dowry as a social evil needs to be eradicated for which right-based activism and social reform movement is highly imperative.
- Lobbying and advocacy at the central level especially the politically influential institutions, groups, organizations and the individuals is equally important to evolve appropriate law and the legal instruments to deal with the human right abuses of the individuals from superstition induced activities. It is very difficult to evolve the effective legal instruments to deal with social evils of various kinds especially in the society where often it is difficult to distinguish a social evil from cultural and religious practices or where many of the superstitious practices have the religious and cultural roots and are normally accepted by the people at large. For example, Kumari Cult or fatalism, fortune telling and supernatural healers. Only the organized and institutional attempts can bring the desirable changes in this direction.
- The origin of Nepal's Maoist Movement can be attributed to the failure of the parliamentary and the constitutional forces to effect desirable changes in the socio-political environment to meet the needs and the expectation of the poverty stricken masses of Nepal. Abject poverty, feudal exploitation and the growing unemployment are the fertile seedbeds that grow healthy seedlings of rebellion. The corruption, injustice and the inaction of the State and the lack of the vision of the political leadership have further accelerated the growth and the expansion of such rebellion. These are the inherent characteristics of Nepal and the reasons why Maoist rebellion originated in the remote villages of some hill districts of Nepal and has spread over the rest of the country. There is no substitute for the right based humanist social movement that can appeal to human rationality, tolerance and cooperation.
- The past four decades of development efforts in Nepal could not bring about a discernible improvement in the living standard of the people. A large chunk of the population is abjectly poor and economically and socially marginalized. Poverty is associated with social exclusion, gender discrimination and absence of an opportunity for basic education and health care. The policy of the government has thus far been discriminatory in the allocation of resources resulting in an unequal development of different regions and the violation of people's rights to resources. Furthermore, the state has not been able to protect and promote the economics, social and cultural rights of the people.
- The state led development efforts have miserably failed due to poor governance manifested in rampant corruption and lack of transparency, overly centralized power, absence of accountability, non-adherence to the rule of law and lack of punitive actions against the transgressors.
- The basic responsibility of the state to keep law and order in the society has failed. This has germinated partly from the failure of the government to mobilize people's participation and to deliver. The government continues to be the violator of human rights that are enshrined in the constitution and international covenants and treaties. Perpetuation of the feudalistic structure inherited from the past and lack of development opportunities has contributed to rampant violations in the non-stake sector as well, resulting into loss of faith in democratic institutions. This sad state of affairs has created profound disenchantment all across and has even led some sections of the citizenry to adopt a path of armed insurgency. Maoist insurgency epitomizes this sorry state of affairs prevalent in Nepal.
- Even when the world, in the wake of the new millennium, is exploring new avenues in the pursuit of improved human welfare, remnants of bonded labor in the form of kamaiya, haliya and other practices are still thriving in the country. These represent direct concern for HUMAN. Even though the plight for the kamaiya (bonded labor practice) is generally being recognized, efforts for their emancipation are largely isolated and inadequate. A highly skewed land distribution (with more than two-thirds of the households owning less than one hectare and some 11% households possessing nearly 42% of land) is the principal cause contributing to the perpetuation of the kamaiya and other forms of human bondage. Yet, the fundamental issue of access to this important resource in terms of human survival remains unaddressed.
- The democratic system that is a decade old has not really been felt by the people at the grass-roots resulting in widespread public mistrust in the system and the basic state institutions. The electoral process as devised and practiced in the country barely reflects the genuine choice of the people. It is considered rather as a means to capture state power. Politics, by and large, is acutely criminalized in the sense that established criminals and violators of the law of the land are not only defiantly protected; they are elevated to even higher positions of responsibility within the state machinery. In this way, the wrongdoers are blatantly rewarded, making a mockery of the established norms of a civilized and law-abiding society. The oppressed silent majority on the other hand is forced to tolerate and accept such dehumanizing acts.
- The government's policy to rely on the free market economy without a concomitant public sector preparedness for regulation and quality control and the lack of safety net provisions for the vulnerable sections of the population whose livelihood has been made more insecure, has accentuated the incidence of poverty. Lack of growth, social equity and overall improvement in the livelihood standards and environmental sustainability has generally compounded the hardships of the majority poor. While free market polices and globalization may be unavoidable in an interdependent world, blind adherence to these without fully understanding their impacts are often found to be harmful. On the other hand, donor communities, especially the World Bank and International Monitory Fund (IMF) and trans-national Corporation are exerting pressure on the government to pursue such policies and the government is left with little or no choice. The government is increasingly being led by the donors to pursue policies of their choice, rather than policies in the best interest of the people concerned. Under these circumstances, the donor-imposed policies, adopted without fully realizing their impacts, have ultimately resulted into violation of economic, social and cultural rights of the people. The fact remains that the state seriously lacks the willingness and capability to seriously analyze such impacts and implement remedial actions.
The new information technology has dramatically changed and revolutionized the way business is carried out in the modern sectors. However, the masses are largely bypassed by these innovations and they are often the victims of such changes.
VISION OF HUMAN
Humanist Association of Nepal is a part of the world humanist movement guided by the secular humanist world view that scientific rationality, human rights and dignity and freedom, compassion, cooperation and wisdom, free inquiry and social justice are the very basis for guiding and directing human behavior towards actualization of these goals. The movement is concerned with expressing an philosophical outlook that reject orthodox and dogmatic position and attempts to provide meaning and direction, unity and purpose to human life. HUMAN envisages to act as a trusted, dependable and movement oriented organization capable of influencing the national and international policy making and planning process, while at the same time reaching out to the people at the grass-roots level through its networks in serving the most deprived, marginalized and vulnerable sections of the population, including women, children and the communities of social, cultural and religious discrimination. HUMAN seeks to play a role of a promoter, facilitator, arbitrator and collaborator in the full realization of a secular democracy, social justice and fulfillment of all kinds of rights for all, focusing on those who are socially excluded, ignored and marginalized.
MISSION OF HUMAN
HUMAN's mission will be manifested in the following role as a watchdog, lobbyist, policy interventionist and an empowerment and mainstreaming agent.
- Nurture and inculcate the scientific temper and rational outlook in the minds of young generation especially school and college graduates who are the most potential human resources for the progressive transformation of the society.
- Nurture and inculcate the religious tolerance, social and ethnic harmony among the people of different religious and cultural faiths and ethnicities through humanist and human rights and ethical education.
- Conduct social mediation to peacefully resolve the social, ethnic and religious conflicts that arise in the communities of the people of different political beliefs and religious faiths and the ethnicities through acceptable mediation processes and disinterested arbitrators or mediators.
- Nurture and safeguard the pluralistic fabric of the Nepalese society and strengthen multiparty democracy to ensure the basic economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights to all. This shall be done through awareness building to prevent human rights violation, appropriate monitoring and dissemination of human rights situation all across the country.
- Serve as a powerful civil society force to ensure the people's right of access to essential livelihood resources, basic health care and primary education. Initially emphasis will be on getting these rights recognized and afterwards on monitoring their implementation.
- Empower woman, the underprivileged and marginalized people, and those who are discriminated against through education, awareness, training, organization, movement campaigns and reform in discriminatory laws. HUMAN's role is basically of a facilitator, collaborator and mentor.
- Work for the promotion of policies, institutions and capacities that strengthen the voices and participation of the poor, especially the disadvantaged and the marginalized in improving their socio-economic status and in institutionalizing democratic governance.
- Mainstreaming participation of indigenous and socially excluded people and victims of caste discrimination, religious intolerance, superstitious and paranormal practices.
SCOPES OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES
- HUMAN is a frontline organization with secular ethical stance which embodies scientific rationality, creativity, capacity for autonomous choice, tolerance, cooperation, harmonization of social relationship and democratization and secularization of the society. It is well recognized and felt that there is a far greater need of active involvement of such organization in the consolidation of the nascent democracy in the developing countries like Nepal where anti-democratic and anti-secular forces such as religious and political fundamentalism, authoritarianism and ethnocentrism are on the rise and have become a potential threat to the democratization of the society.
- Though the constitution of the Nepal honors human rights and democratic freedom, it needs consolidation through an active role of the civil society. HUMAN can play a significant role in strengthening civil society through advocacy and humanist education for social reforms in the area of protecting child rights, women' empowerment, eradicating casteism and untouchability, promoting religious tolerance and social harmony, discouraging superstitious and paranormal practices widely prevalent in Nepali society.
- Nepal is a party to 16 international human rights instruments. However, the practices do not conform to these commitments. The state is failing to deliver basic education and primary health care to the poor majority. The non-governmental organizations are expected to play a greater role in these areas.
- There is a need to expand partnership between the NGOs and the government and amongst the NGOs and international development and humanitarian agencies.
- Civil societies are increasingly playing a more definitive role in the development process through social mobilization and participatory learning approaches.
- There is a growing recognition that civil societies can do better than the government in certain areas especially community empowerment through capacity building, advocacy and social mobilization.
- The information technology is becoming accessible for promoting exchange of ideas, experiences, learning, networking and campaigning for the greater benefit of the society. HUMAN believes in the application of science and technology to the improvement of human conditions and the eradication of dehumanizing practices existing in the society.
- HUMAN strongly upholds the principle of unity in diversity and believes that synergy can be created through the rational integration of activities in diversified areas.
There exists a great opportunity to advance and disseminate humanist philosophy, values, educational and campaign activities through powerful and effective communicative means and mechanisms such as Community Radio. Establishment of a community radio is envisaged to bring landmark achievement in humanist movement in Nepal as it is conceived as the most effective means in bringing the behavioral changes of people through raising awareness and social consciousness.
THREATS TO HUMANIST MOVEMENT IN NEPAL
- The rise of anti democratic and anti secular forces such as religious and political fundamentalism, authoritarianism and ethnocentrism have become the potential threats to the democratization of the society especially in developing countries.
- Wide spread superstitious and paranormal practices such as untouchability, casteism, fatalism, witch-hunting, God-man claim, fortune teller, shamanism and paranormal healers originated from age-old religious practices and superstitions and handed down from tradition have severely constrained the development of the human personality resulting in the communities of the people with credulous mind-set and a strong sense of fear and belief in the irrational and unfounded forces. This poses a great threat for the progressive development of the society.
- Existence of widespread poverty, illiteracy and deprivation among the majority of the population further reinforces the fatalistic attitude and belief in supernatural forces.
- The government is becoming increasingly intolerant to the civil societies impairing their continuity and independence.
- Growing intolerance, sectarianism, ethnocentrism and political fundamentalism.
- Growing political instability and unrest, erosion of democratic institutions and practices and growth of insurgency against the multi-party democratic system.
- Conflicting interest of different constituents (e.g., donors, the government and NGOs) and increased competition from the public sector for resources.
- Neo-liberal economic philosophy that worships free-market and considers that it is a panacea to remedy all the societal problems.
WEAKNESS OF HUMAN
- No physical facilities and organizational support infrastructure (building with office and library facilities, training and meeting hall, computers, audiovisual aids and vehicles etc.)
- Performance and achievements of the organization's programmes not well documented and effectively disseminated.
- Lack of adequate professionalism and analytical skills required in a fast growing national institution
- Absence of a systematic policy regarding training and career enhancement of the members involved in the humanist movement.
- Local fundraising virtually absent; very limited outside support and associated uncertainty about sustainability.
- Institutional building process just evolving.
STRENGTHS OF HUMAN
- Established as a frontline organization capable of undertaking an intellectual and activist leadership role in the fight against religious, political and cultural fundamentalisms through the process of mediation, education and campaign for tolerance and social harmony among communities of people with different belief systems, faith and creeds.
- Established credible relation with fraternal organizations at the national, regional and global levels
- Established linkages with external agencies, academic institutions and humanist organizations
- Presence of the spirit of volunteerism and activism amongst the members.
- Pioneering work in identifying national and international issues.
- A strong network base to gain synergy for programme implementation.
- Committed members with activist and self-motivated leanings.
- Strong, visionary and participatory leadership.
- Above all, recognized as a credible humanist and human rights organization.
HUMAN WILL STRIVE FOR
- Increased awareness among people of different castes and classes that all human being are equal in every respect and the notion of "high caste" and "low caste" is morally wrong and unethical.
- Increased religious and cultural tolerance among people of different communities living in the same locality recognizing the fact that all human beings are basically the same.
- Increased participation of the socially oppressed and marginalized communities in social and political processes
- Inculcation of the humanist worldview that rational thinking and the reasoning are the most powerful instruments to fight against dogmatic and superstitious mindset and the practices.
- Collection and the documentation of case studies (information) on social conflict and tension between Hindu high castes and the untouchables from different parts of the country.
- Awareness campaign against Hindu caste system especially focusing on how the notion of untouchable has critically undermined the realization of human potential, dignity and the freedom.
- Mobilization of community based organization (CBOs), local NGOs, local government, elected bodies, social and human right activists to disseminate Humanist education, its premises and principles with a view to promote tolerance and communal harmony.
- Building coalition and networking among social reformists, activists, right based organizations, legal institutions, judiciary, and the community organizations to fight against social discrimination of all kinds.
- Creation of socially enabling environment for the untouchables to sale milk and milk products, food and edibles and to practice worshipping in the temple of high Hindu castes.
THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HUMAN AT A GLANCE
- The founders of HUMAN had an active involvement in the democratic, human rights and social reform movement. HUMAN's work was directed to educating and empowering the socially oppressed communities especially the Dalits, women, and the victims of various dehumanizing social practices emanated from superstitions, communal and religious intolerance especially the communities in the informal sector, neglected, underprivileged and poverty-ridden masses. Seven years ago, HUMAN started with an awareness raising campaign against witch hunting still widely prevalent in the countryside.
- After the advent of democracy in 1990, HUMAN played a contributory role in raising the issue of drafting legislature for protecting the innocent people from a number of social malpractices induced by religious and superstitious world views by organizing interaction seminars and inviting suggestions from wider sections of the population.
- HUMAN conducted a case study project and compiled information on the victims of superstitions in 45 districts throughout Nepal. The case studies revealed how superstitions, fatalistic belief and paranormal practices have victimized the innocent and credulous people in Nepali society. The case studies constitute an important component of the data base information pool which form the basis for developing Humanist education and campaign materials that can be effectively used to fight against the irrational and dogmatic forces prevalent in society.
- HUMAN also contributed to the formation of the Nepal Election Observation Committee (NEOC) and actively participated in election observation in cooperation with other national NGOs. Since then, it has been continuously involved in the observation of elections for the national and local level representatives.
- HUMAN has raised its voice against kamaiya system (a form of bonded labor) and other similar practices through various activities such as awareness building at the grass-roots level, education and vocational training to the kamaiya and their children.
- HUMAN is an active member of a nationwide network of human rights organizations working to impart humanist and human rights educations. The humanist and human rights education, with literacy as an entry point, focuses on the poor and underprivileged sections of the society. The humanist education programme aims at the empowerment of the human individuals through the realization that it is the human person himself/herself who is primarily responsible for his/her state of being and that unless the individuals themselves strive for positive changes, outside interventions may not be effectively helpful.
- HUMAN has a special focus on women's awareness and empowerment. Salient features of this programme include research studies to better understand their problems (socio-economic, health and reproductive health); organization of seminars to enhance recognition of their importance and contribution to democratic struggle; lobbying for their increased role in the decision making process and organizing platforms for mutual interaction of women representatives during national and local elections.
- HUMAN has always emphasized the protection of children's rights and has raised serious concerns and voiced against the violation of their rights to education and dignified and meaningful life. HUMAN conducted research studies on the superstitious practices that have denied the child especially the female child the right to education, and the dignified life with the minimum level of the needs (physiological needs, love and affection) required for the development of the personality of the child. HUMAN is the frontline organization that raised the issue of Kumari worship and regarded it as a child-dehumanizing cult. HUMAN has publicly argued that the Kumari worship be stopped and the appropriate measures initiated to rehabilitate the ex-Kumaris who are socially stigmatized and are living a life of pariah. HUMAN has formed child awareness groups in the community with the participation of the school children and their mothers and teachers. Activities carried out in this area include facilitating child rights activities through awareness groups, and participation in the national and international efforts to protect child rights.
- Casteism and untouchability still exist deep down in the society forming the bedrock of Hindu religion. Caste discrimination especially the discrimination against the so-called untouchable castes (lower castes) widely prevalent despite those practices is illegal. HUMAN, as a frontline organization, has initiated a number of activities on this front such as awareness building, protest against casteism and social discrimination. HUMAN has developed coalition and alliance with the social reform organizations formed by the socially oppressed untouchable communities.
- HUMAN along with other human rights organizations highlighted the criminalization of politics with a view to bringing such events into public notice. It launched a campaign for the social boycott and expulsion of criminals and corrupted politicians from the political parties' rank and file and preventing them to be elected to the parliament. HUMAN raised the issue of enacting a legislation that prevents the criminals and corrupted politicians from being elected to the parliament.
- HUMAN along with other human rights organizations advocated and lobbied for a separate legislation to create an independent human rights commission which resulted in the formation of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in which one of the founder members of HUMAN currently serves as a member of the commission, which is a matter of pride and credit to HUMAN.
APPEAL OF HUMAN
In view of the prevailing national scenario, HUMAN has planned to carry out a number of activities in the future. The establishment of a Humanist Study Center (HSC) is the most crucial and the fundamental concern of HUMAN at present. Once, HUMAN has a study center with facilities such as library, office and seminar rooms, then many of the awareness raising and campaign activities can be launched without any difficulty with little support from friends within and outside Nepal. We would like to appeal all Humanists organizations and the friends to help establish the proposed Humanist Study Center in Kathmandu Nepal. The Study Center will not only propagate the Humanist values, principles and the philosophy but also carry out the numbers of activities in a sustained and coherent way.
Dear friends, we are seeking financial support from our Humanist, Human Rights and other organizations for the establishment of the Humanist Study Center in Kathmandu. This is the most important and fundamental task HUMAN has realized considering the utility of such Center in carrying out the Humanist activities in a permanent, coherent and coordinated manner. Your little support may mean a great help to HUMAN. HUMAN would duly acknowledge the contribution made by the Humanists, Human Rights and other organizations and the friends towards this end. We would like to express our profound gratitude for your moral and material support without which HUMAN would not have come into existence. We once again appeal to you all and look forward to hearing from you this regard.
Yours always in Humanism
Dr. Gopi Upreti
President
Ganga Prasad Subedi
General Secretary
upretigopi@yahoo.com and
nepalihumanist@hotmail.com
Mobile: 9841328269
An Introduction of Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN)
HUMAN IS COMMITTED TO SCIENTIFIC RATIONALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN DIGNITY AND FREEDOM, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH SECULAR HUMANISM.
HUMAN IS THE MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION (IHEU) FOR NEPAL
HUMANISM IN NEPAL
During the past seven years of its existence, Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN) has grown into a frontline agency in the nongovernmental sector fighting against superstitions, paranormal practices, fatalism, caste system, untouchability, dowry system and religious and political fundamentalisms in one hand and on the other hand providing unqualified respect for the fundamental human rights of all the citizens and campaigning for secularization and democratization of Nepalese society. The journey thus far was arduous, but equally rewarding in establishing itself as an effective promoter of awareness regarding human rights among the various stakeholders within the civil society and an active lobbyist, particularly for the most deprived and vulnerable sections of the society.
As the world has just entered the 21st century and a new millennium, HUMAN intends to formulate its strategic plan and determine a future course of action for the next ten years (Jun 2004-June 2014). This draft strategic plan is being circulated amongst the partner organizations, donors and colleagues, board members and volunteers of HUMAN and other stakeholders for their open and critical comments and suggestions. The document will be finalized on the basis of the feedback thus received.
The concept of democratic freedom for all and the need for the protection of the weaker and vulnerable groups in a society evolved only recently. It was only five decades ago that human rights were universally recognized as an integral component of human freedom to guide all civilized states. In Nepal, the advent of democracy and restoration of human rights is merely little more than a decade. HUMAN is about to complete seven years of operation working primarily as a humanist and human rights organization. In this important historical juncture, HUMAN considers it relevant to build on its past experience and prepare itself for a more vigorous and effective future.
HUMAN's realization of the need for a renewed commitment and a careful planning of its future actions are based on the following realities:
- Followings the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepal entered a new ear of framing a democratic constitution. Despite the aspiration of various political forces and the civil society and their expressed concern over the secular character of the constitution, the framers of the constitutions could not resist Hindu fundamentalists demand that Nepal be declared a Hindu State. The Hindu fundamentalist forces (including those involved in drafting of the constitution) prevailed in the making of the constitution of the kingdom of Nepal. This is a serious breach of human rationality and the spirit of democratic secularism, the concept of the secular democratic state.
- Superstitious practices and belief have dominated the socio-cultural lives of the people of Nepal from time immemorial. Witch-Hunting, Shamanic practices, Para-normal doctors and healers, Divine and God-men claims are the commonplace phenomena not only in the illiterate and ignorant rural community of Nepal but also in the urban centers. The superstitious practices of various kinds have dehumanized the people at large and their community and have taken the lives of many innocent and ignorant individuals
- Women who constitute two-third of domestic and agriculture labor are subjected to extreme exploitation is disheartening. Child marriage, polygamy and dowry have persisted as a means of oppression, exploitation and discrimination against women. The state of impunity continues in the state behavior resulting in the institutionalization of human rights abuses.
- There is an increasing trend in the utilization and exploitation of child labor. Primary school is still inaccessible to the majority of those below the poverty line. Even if they mange to enroll, the dropout rate of the children of this group is quite high. Because of the feudal patriarchal social setting, the women in general and the female child in particular are discriminated resulting in the unfair treatment of the women and the female child consequently, their access to education, employment, parental property is severely limited.
- Because of the strong Hindu religious, superstitious and fundamentalist belief system handed down from Hindu tradition, Nepali society is still very much rooted in the caste system which discriminate against the communities of the people belonging to the so called scheduled castes or collectively known as the Dalits (untouchables) who have been socially and culturally oppressed from time immemorial. Only a strong humanist and social reform movement can significantly rupture the traditional bondage of Hindu casteism and push the Nepali society towards progressive transformation.
- Dowry, the practice of forced financial and material arrangement to be given by the parents of the bride to the parents of the groom or the bridegroom himself, as an essential condition of the marriage has further socially degraded the lives of women. The financial and material amount is fixed and demanded by the parents of the bridegroom or bridegroom him-self. If the parents of the bride do not fulfill such demands, the marriage cannot take place or even if the marriage takes place, the bride will be subjected to outrageous humiliation, tortured and even deaths. This is a social evil of enormous magnitude in the southern Terai region of Nepal bordering with India. The dowry as a social evil needs to be eradicated for which right-based activism and social reform movement is highly imperative.
- Lobbying and advocacy at the central level especially the politically influential institutions, groups, organizations and the individuals is equally important to evolve appropriate law and the legal instruments to deal with the human right abuses of the individuals from superstition induced activities. It is very difficult to evolve the effective legal instruments to deal with social evils of various kinds especially in the society where often it is difficult to distinguish a social evil from cultural and religious practices or where many of the superstitious practices have the religious and cultural roots and are normally accepted by the people at large. For example, Kumari Cult or fatalism, fortune telling and supernatural healers. Only the organized and institutional attempts can bring the desirable changes in this direction.
- The origin of Nepal's Maoist Movement can be attributed to the failure of the parliamentary and the constitutional forces to effect desirable changes in the socio-political environment to meet the needs and the expectation of the poverty stricken masses of Nepal. Abject poverty, feudal exploitation and the growing unemployment are the fertile seedbeds that grow healthy seedlings of rebellion. The corruption, injustice and the inaction of the State and the lack of the vision of the political leadership have further accelerated the growth and the expansion of such rebellion. These are the inherent characteristics of Nepal and the reasons why Maoist rebellion originated in the remote villages of some hill districts of Nepal and has spread over the rest of the country. There is no substitute for the right based humanist social movement that can appeal to human rationality, tolerance and cooperation.
- The past four decades of development efforts in Nepal could not bring about a discernible improvement in the living standard of the people. A large chunk of the population is abjectly poor and economically and socially marginalized. Poverty is associated with social exclusion, gender discrimination and absence of an opportunity for basic education and health care. The policy of the government has thus far been discriminatory in the allocation of resources resulting in an unequal development of different regions and the violation of people's rights to resources. Furthermore, the state has not been able to protect and promote the economics, social and cultural rights of the people.
- The state led development efforts have miserably failed due to poor governance manifested in rampant corruption and lack of transparency, overly centralized power, absence of accountability, non-adherence to the rule of law and lack of punitive actions against the transgressors.
- The basic responsibility of the state to keep law and order in the society has failed. This has germinated partly from the failure of the government to mobilize people's participation and to deliver. The government continues to be the violator of human rights that are enshrined in the constitution and international covenants and treaties. Perpetuation of the feudalistic structure inherited from the past and lack of development opportunities has contributed to rampant violations in the non-stake sector as well, resulting into loss of faith in democratic institutions. This sad state of affairs has created profound disenchantment all across and has even led some sections of the citizenry to adopt a path of armed insurgency. Maoist insurgency epitomizes this sorry state of affairs prevalent in Nepal.
- Even when the world, in the wake of the new millennium, is exploring new avenues in the pursuit of improved human welfare, remnants of bonded labor in the form of kamaiya, haliya and other practices are still thriving in the country. These represent direct concern for HUMAN. Even though the plight for the kamaiya (bonded labor practice) is generally being recognized, efforts for their emancipation are largely isolated and inadequate. A highly skewed land distribution (with more than two-thirds of the households owning less than one hectare and some 11% households possessing nearly 42% of land) is the principal cause contributing to the perpetuation of the kamaiya and other forms of human bondage. Yet, the fundamental issue of access to this important resource in terms of human survival remains unaddressed.
- The democratic system that is a decade old has not really been felt by the people at the grass-roots resulting in widespread public mistrust in the system and the basic state institutions. The electoral process as devised and practiced in the country barely reflects the genuine choice of the people. It is considered rather as a means to capture state power. Politics, by and large, is acutely criminalized in the sense that established criminals and violators of the law of the land are not only defiantly protected; they are elevated to even higher positions of responsibility within the state machinery. In this way, the wrongdoers are blatantly rewarded, making a mockery of the established norms of a civilized and law-abiding society. The oppressed silent majority on the other hand is forced to tolerate and accept such dehumanizing acts.
- The government's policy to rely on the free market economy without a concomitant public sector preparedness for regulation and quality control and the lack of safety net provisions for the vulnerable sections of the population whose livelihood has been made more insecure, has accentuated the incidence of poverty. Lack of growth, social equity and overall improvement in the livelihood standards and environmental sustainability has generally compounded the hardships of the majority poor. While free market polices and globalization may be unavoidable in an interdependent world, blind adherence to these without fully understanding their impacts are often found to be harmful. On the other hand, donor communities, especially the World Bank and International Monitory Fund (IMF) and trans-national Corporation are exerting pressure on the government to pursue such policies and the government is left with little or no choice. The government is increasingly being led by the donors to pursue policies of their choice, rather than policies in the best interest of the people concerned. Under these circumstances, the donor-imposed policies, adopted without fully realizing their impacts, have ultimately resulted into violation of economic, social and cultural rights of the people. The fact remains that the state seriously lacks the willingness and capability to seriously analyze such impacts and implement remedial actions.
The new information technology has dramatically changed and revolutionized the way business is carried out in the modern sectors. However, the masses are largely bypassed by these innovations and they are often the victims of such changes.
VISION OF HUMAN
Humanist Association of Nepal is a part of the world humanist movement guided by the secular humanist world view that scientific rationality, human rights and dignity and freedom, compassion, cooperation and wisdom, free inquiry and social justice are the very basis for guiding and directing human behavior towards actualization of these goals. The movement is concerned with expressing an philosophical outlook that reject orthodox and dogmatic position and attempts to provide meaning and direction, unity and purpose to human life. HUMAN envisages to act as a trusted, dependable and movement oriented organization capable of influencing the national and international policy making and planning process, while at the same time reaching out to the people at the grass-roots level through its networks in serving the most deprived, marginalized and vulnerable sections of the population, including women, children and the communities of social, cultural and religious discrimination. HUMAN seeks to play a role of a promoter, facilitator, arbitrator and collaborator in the full realization of a secular democracy, social justice and fulfillment of all kinds of rights for all, focusing on those who are socially excluded, ignored and marginalized.
MISSION OF HUMAN
HUMAN's mission will be manifested in the following role as a watchdog, lobbyist, policy interventionist and an empowerment and mainstreaming agent.
- Nurture and inculcate the scientific temper and rational outlook in the minds of young generation especially school and college graduates who are the most potential human resources for the progressive transformation of the society.
- Nurture and inculcate the religious tolerance, social and ethnic harmony among the people of different religious and cultural faiths and ethnicities through humanist and human rights and ethical education.
- Conduct social mediation to peacefully resolve the social, ethnic and religious conflicts that arise in the communities of the people of different political beliefs and religious faiths and the ethnicities through acceptable mediation processes and disinterested arbitrators or mediators.
- Nurture and safeguard the pluralistic fabric of the Nepalese society and strengthen multiparty democracy to ensure the basic economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights to all. This shall be done through awareness building to prevent human rights violation, appropriate monitoring and dissemination of human rights situation all across the country.
- Serve as a powerful civil society force to ensure the people's right of access to essential livelihood resources, basic health care and primary education. Initially emphasis will be on getting these rights recognized and afterwards on monitoring their implementation.
- Empower woman, the underprivileged and marginalized people, and those who are discriminated against through education, awareness, training, organization, movement campaigns and reform in discriminatory laws. HUMAN's role is basically of a facilitator, collaborator and mentor.
- Work for the promotion of policies, institutions and capacities that strengthen the voices and participation of the poor, especially the disadvantaged and the marginalized in improving their socio-economic status and in institutionalizing democratic governance.
- Mainstreaming participation of indigenous and socially excluded people and victims of caste discrimination, religious intolerance, superstitious and paranormal practices.
SCOPES OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES
- HUMAN is a frontline organization with secular ethical stance which embodies scientific rationality, creativity, capacity for autonomous choice, tolerance, cooperation, harmonization of social relationship and democratization and secularization of the society. It is well recognized and felt that there is a far greater need of active involvement of such organization in the consolidation of the nascent democracy in the developing countries like Nepal where anti-democratic and anti-secular forces such as religious and political fundamentalism, authoritarianism and ethnocentrism are on the rise and have become a potential threat to the democratization of the society.
- Though the constitution of the Nepal honors human rights and democratic freedom, it needs consolidation through an active role of the civil society. HUMAN can play a significant role in strengthening civil society through advocacy and humanist education for social reforms in the area of protecting child rights, women' empowerment, eradicating casteism and untouchability, promoting religious tolerance and social harmony, discouraging superstitious and paranormal practices widely prevalent in Nepali society.
- Nepal is a party to 16 international human rights instruments. However, the practices do not conform to these commitments. The state is failing to deliver basic education and primary health care to the poor majority. The non-governmental organizations are expected to play a greater role in these areas.
- There is a need to expand partnership between the NGOs and the government and amongst the NGOs and international development and humanitarian agencies.
- Civil societies are increasingly playing a more definitive role in the development process through social mobilization and participatory learning approaches.
- There is a growing recognition that civil societies can do better than the government in certain areas especially community empowerment through capacity building, advocacy and social mobilization.
- The information technology is becoming accessible for promoting exchange of ideas, experiences, learning, networking and campaigning for the greater benefit of the society. HUMAN believes in the application of science and technology to the improvement of human conditions and the eradication of dehumanizing practices existing in the society.
- HUMAN strongly upholds the principle of unity in diversity and believes that synergy can be created through the rational integration of activities in diversified areas.
There exists a great opportunity to advance and disseminate humanist philosophy, values, educational and campaign activities through powerful and effective communicative means and mechanisms such as Community Radio. Establishment of a community radio is envisaged to bring landmark achievement in humanist movement in Nepal as it is conceived as the most effective means in bringing the behavioral changes of people through raising awareness and social consciousness.
THREATS TO HUMANIST MOVEMENT IN NEPAL
- The rise of anti democratic and anti secular forces such as religious and political fundamentalism, authoritarianism and ethnocentrism have become the potential threats to the democratization of the society especially in developing countries.
- Wide spread superstitious and paranormal practices such as untouchability, casteism, fatalism, witch-hunting, God-man claim, fortune teller, shamanism and paranormal healers originated from age-old religious practices and superstitions and handed down from tradition have severely constrained the development of the human personality resulting in the communities of the people with credulous mind-set and a strong sense of fear and belief in the irrational and unfounded forces. This poses a great threat for the progressive development of the society.
- Existence of widespread poverty, illiteracy and deprivation among the majority of the population further reinforces the fatalistic attitude and belief in supernatural forces.
- The government is becoming increasingly intolerant to the civil societies impairing their continuity and independence.
- Growing intolerance, sectarianism, ethnocentrism and political fundamentalism.
- Growing political instability and unrest, erosion of democratic institutions and practices and growth of insurgency against the multi-party democratic system.
- Conflicting interest of different constituents (e.g., donors, the government and NGOs) and increased competition from the public sector for resources.
- Neo-liberal economic philosophy that worships free-market and considers that it is a panacea to remedy all the societal problems.
WEAKNESS OF HUMAN
- No physical facilities and organizational support infrastructure (building with office and library facilities, training and meeting hall, computers, audiovisual aids and vehicles etc.)
- Performance and achievements of the organization's programmes not well documented and effectively disseminated.
- Lack of adequate professionalism and analytical skills required in a fast growing national institution
- Absence of a systematic policy regarding training and career enhancement of the members involved in the humanist movement.
- Local fundraising virtually absent; very limited outside support and associated uncertainty about sustainability.
- Institutional building process just evolving.
STRENGTHS OF HUMAN
- Established as a frontline organization capable of undertaking an intellectual and activist leadership role in the fight against religious, political and cultural fundamentalisms through the process of mediation, education and campaign for tolerance and social harmony among communities of people with different belief systems, faith and creeds.
- Established credible relation with fraternal organizations at the national, regional and global levels
- Established linkages with external agencies, academic institutions and humanist organizations
- Presence of the spirit of volunteerism and activism amongst the members.
- Pioneering work in identifying national and international issues.
- A strong network base to gain synergy for programme implementation.
- Committed members with activist and self-motivated leanings.
- Strong, visionary and participatory leadership.
- Above all, recognized as a credible humanist and human rights organization.
HUMAN WILL STRIVE FOR
- Increased awareness among people of different castes and classes that all human being are equal in every respect and the notion of "high caste" and "low caste" is morally wrong and unethical.
- Increased religious and cultural tolerance among people of different communities living in the same locality recognizing the fact that all human beings are basically the same.
- Increased participation of the socially oppressed and marginalized communities in social and political processes
- Inculcation of the humanist worldview that rational thinking and the reasoning are the most powerful instruments to fight against dogmatic and superstitious mindset and the practices.
- Collection and the documentation of case studies (information) on social conflict and tension between Hindu high castes and the untouchables from different parts of the country.
- Awareness campaign against Hindu caste system especially focusing on how the notion of untouchable has critically undermined the realization of human potential, dignity and the freedom.
- Mobilization of community based organization (CBOs), local NGOs, local government, elected bodies, social and human right activists to disseminate Humanist education, its premises and principles with a view to promote tolerance and communal harmony.
- Building coalition and networking among social reformists, activists, right based organizations, legal institutions, judiciary, and the community organizations to fight against social discrimination of all kinds.
- Creation of socially enabling environment for the untouchables to sale milk and milk products, food and edibles and to practice worshipping in the temple of high Hindu castes.
THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HUMAN AT A GLANCE
- The founders of HUMAN had an active involvement in the democratic, human rights and social reform movement. HUMAN's work was directed to educating and empowering the socially oppressed communities especially the Dalits, women, and the victims of various dehumanizing social practices emanated from superstitions, communal and religious intolerance especially the communities in the informal sector, neglected, underprivileged and poverty-ridden masses. Seven years ago, HUMAN started with an awareness raising campaign against witch hunting still widely prevalent in the countryside.
- After the advent of democracy in 1990, HUMAN played a contributory role in raising the issue of drafting legislature for protecting the innocent people from a number of social malpractices induced by religious and superstitious world views by organizing interaction seminars and inviting suggestions from wider sections of the population.
- HUMAN conducted a case study project and compiled information on the victims of superstitions in 45 districts throughout Nepal. The case studies revealed how superstitions, fatalistic belief and paranormal practices have victimized the innocent and credulous people in Nepali society. The case studies constitute an important component of the data base information pool which form the basis for developing Humanist education and campaign materials that can be effectively used to fight against the irrational and dogmatic forces prevalent in society.
- HUMAN also contributed to the formation of the Nepal Election Observation Committee (NEOC) and actively participated in election observation in cooperation with other national NGOs. Since then, it has been continuously involved in the observation of elections for the national and local level representatives.
- HUMAN has raised its voice against kamaiya system (a form of bonded labor) and other similar practices through various activities such as awareness building at the grass-roots level, education and vocational training to the kamaiya and their children.
- HUMAN is an active member of a nationwide network of human rights organizations working to impart humanist and human rights educations. The humanist and human rights education, with literacy as an entry point, focuses on the poor and underprivileged sections of the society. The humanist education programme aims at the empowerment of the human individuals through the realization that it is the human person himself/herself who is primarily responsible for his/her state of being and that unless the individuals themselves strive for positive changes, outside interventions may not be effectively helpful.
- HUMAN has a special focus on women's awareness and empowerment. Salient features of this programme include research studies to better understand their problems (socio-economic, health and reproductive health); organization of seminars to enhance recognition of their importance and contribution to democratic struggle; lobbying for their increased role in the decision making process and organizing platforms for mutual interaction of women representatives during national and local elections.
- HUMAN has always emphasized the protection of children's rights and has raised serious concerns and voiced against the violation of their rights to education and dignified and meaningful life. HUMAN conducted research studies on the superstitious practices that have denied the child especially the female child the right to education, and the dignified life with the minimum level of the needs (physiological needs, love and affection) required for the development of the personality of the child. HUMAN is the frontline organization that raised the issue of Kumari worship and regarded it as a child-dehumanizing cult. HUMAN has publicly argued that the Kumari worship be stopped and the appropriate measures initiated to rehabilitate the ex-Kumaris who are socially stigmatized and are living a life of pariah. HUMAN has formed child awareness groups in the community with the participation of the school children and their mothers and teachers. Activities carried out in this area include facilitating child rights activities through awareness groups, and participation in the national and international efforts to protect child rights.
- Casteism and untouchability still exist deep down in the society forming the bedrock of Hindu religion. Caste discrimination especially the discrimination against the so-called untouchable castes (lower castes) widely prevalent despite those practices is illegal. HUMAN, as a frontline organization, has initiated a number of activities on this front such as awareness building, protest against casteism and social discrimination. HUMAN has developed coalition and alliance with the social reform organizations formed by the socially oppressed untouchable communities.
- HUMAN along with other human rights organizations highlighted the criminalization of politics with a view to bringing such events into public notice. It launched a campaign for the social boycott and expulsion of criminals and corrupted politicians from the political parties' rank and file and preventing them to be elected to the parliament. HUMAN raised the issue of enacting a legislation that prevents the criminals and corrupted politicians from being elected to the parliament.
- HUMAN along with other human rights organizations advocated and lobbied for a separate legislation to create an independent human rights commission which resulted in the formation of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in which one of the founder members of HUMAN currently serves as a member of the commission, which is a matter of pride and credit to HUMAN.
APPEAL OF HUMAN
In view of the prevailing national scenario, HUMAN has planned to carry out a number of activities in the future. The establishment of a Humanist Study Center (HSC) is the most crucial and the fundamental concern of HUMAN at present. Once, HUMAN has a study center with facilities such as library, office and seminar rooms, then many of the awareness raising and campaign activities can be launched without any difficulty with little support from friends within and outside Nepal. We would like to appeal all Humanists organizations and the friends to help establish the proposed Humanist Study Center in Kathmandu Nepal. The Study Center will not only propagate the Humanist values, principles and the philosophy but also carry out the numbers of activities in a sustained and coherent way.
Dear friends, we are seeking financial support from our Humanist, Human Rights and other organizations for the establishment of the Humanist Study Center in Kathmandu. This is the most important and fundamental task HUMAN has realized considering the utility of such Center in carrying out the Humanist activities in a permanent, coherent and coordinated manner. Your little support may mean a great help to HUMAN. HUMAN would duly acknowledge the contribution made by the Humanists, Human Rights and other organizations and the friends towards this end. We would like to express our profound gratitude for your moral and material support without which HUMAN would not have come into existence. We once again appeal to you all and look forward to hearing from you this regard.
Yours always in Humanism
Dr. Gopi Upreti
President
Ganga Prasad Subedi
General Secretary
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