Activities of

"Hamro Awaj" (Our Voices)

(Landmines Survivors Network Nepal)

After participating the training program "Raising The Voices" in Geneva, from 7 to 18 May 2003 we launched the following activities successfully.

1. Sharing program on “Raising The Voices” (21 May 2003)

2. Foundation of “Hamro Awaj” (Our Voices) Landmine Survivors Network Nepal. (21 May 2003)

3. Sharing program with local government authorities in Rukum, Maoists cadres, Polices, Army, Friends etc.

4. Participated in ICBL Mission to Nepal. (8-14 June 2003)

5. Working with media

6. Published "Adhikar Sambandhi Teen Dhastabejharu" means Three Documents Related to Rights.

7. Recorded a song cassette to make aware from danger of Landmines collaborating with local people in Rukum.

8. Displayed Banner in public place of district headquarters in Rukum district with the message "Do not use Landmines."

9. Participated 5th Meeting of State Parties (5MSP) at Bangkok. (13-21 September, 2003).

10. Took part active role in Orientation program organized by NCBL in Kathmandu. (2 Dec 2003).

11. Participated a national seminar on "Landmines and Disability" organized by NCBL. (3 Dec, 2003)

12. Organized a meeting among the Landmines & Conflict Victims in Rukum District. Thirteen victims of conflict participated in the meeting. (30 December 2003)

13. Participated the program "Candle Lighting for Peace" (8th March 2004).

14. Ganga Prasad Poudel a member of Hamro Awaj / NCBL participated in Mine Risk Education Program. (31 March, 2004)

15. On the behalf of NCBL Hari Jang Shah organized a Mine Risk Education program and conflict victim child scholarship program in Rukum District.

16. Formed a District section committee of Hamro Awaj (Landmine Survivors Network Nepal) - 25 May 2004.

1. Sharing Program on “Raising The Voices”

(21 May 2003)

A sharing program was organized by Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) on 21 May 2003. In that program the members of NCBL, Youth for Peace, Women Development Society were participated. In a program, the victims shared their experiences and knowledge gained from the Geneva and also discussed about the further Activities.

2. Foundation of “Hamro Awaj” (Our Voices)

The same day a group “Hamro Awaj” is formed with affiliation of NCBL to propagate the voices of the disabled people by landmines & IEDs and to guarantee the rights stated on Human Rights Declaration. Mr. Hari Jang Shah, Mrs. Bhagawati Debi Gautam and Mr. Prabin Chitrakar from NCBL are in this group. Mr. Shah and Mr. Chitrakar are the co-coordinator.

3. Sharing programs with local government authorities in Rukum, Maoists cadres, Polices, Army, Friends etc.

Mrs. Bhagawati Debi Gautam and Hari Jang Shah shared information about the training program “Raising the Voices” held in Geneva to the Village Development Committee Officers (VDC) of Rukum. People were curious about the training. They tried to answer them. All the people are interested to know if there will be any assistant program for the victims. They shared the experience gained from the training program like providing artificial limbs, health care, education, skill development trainings, collecting the data of victims in local level etc. They advised and requested people to raise the voice against the use, production, transferring and stockpiling of landmines. They also discussed on the few points of Human Rights and peace in the country. In their discussion they hotly discussed that every people must have the rights of freedom and right to solve their problems by themselves.

Mr. Top Bahadur Khadka, a human rights activist showed his interest to work together on the issue of Human Rights and Peace.

4. Participated ICBL Mission to Nepal (8-14 June 2003)

Mrs. Bhagawati Debi Gautam and Mr. Hari Jang Shah participated the ICBL Mission to Nepal on 8-14 June 2003 and got an opportunity to share their feeling with different personals and meetings:

a) Hon. Prakash Chandra Lohani, The Finance Minister and negotiator of peace talk

b) Ramesh Nath Pandey, former minister and member of government negotiating team

c) Hon. Sushil Koirala, general secretary of Nepali Congress

d) Ex. Prime Minster Sher Bahdur Deuwa, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic)

e) Ex. Deputy Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (UML)

f) Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Maoists leader and member of peace talk team

g) Rt. Hon. Nayan Bahadur Khatri, Chair-National Human Rights Commission

h) Brig. Gen. Kul Bahadur Khadka

i) Additional Inspector General Ravi Kanta Aryal of Police

j) Additional Inspector General Ravi Raj Thapa of Arm Police Force

k) Participate in the meetings with Human Rights and peace organizations and INGOs.

In Interaction program with Human rights and Peace organizations on behalf of victim team Mr. Hari Jang Shah gave his speech..

After meeting with different people and participating different programs, government, Maoists, different organizations are serious about the problem of the landmines in Nepal. Brig. Gen. Kul Bahadur Khadka declared that they have used about 10,000 landmines around 50 army posts. Most of those mines are victim activated antipersonnel mine and some of the mines are made in the factory of Nepal.

5. Working with Media

Mrs. Bhagawati Debi Gautam and Mr. Hari Jang gave different interviews in Media. Nepal Television, Radios and different newspapers highlighted the issue.

6. Published "Adhikar Sambandhi Teen Dhastabejharu" means Three Documents Related to Rights.

Hamro Awaj / NCBL published booklet on “Adikar Sambandhi Teen Dastabejharu” Three Documents related to rights in which Human Rights Declaration, Standard Rules and Article 6.3 of MBT are included.

7. Recorded a song cassette to make aware from danger of Landmines collaborating with local people in Rukum.

Mr. Hari Jang Shah local people of Rukum recorded a song cassette. There is a message as well as a song which gives a message of the danger of Landmines.

8. Displayed Banner in public place of district headquarters in Rukum district with message "Do not use Landmines."

Hamro Awaj displayed banner with the message "Do not use Landmines" in different public places of district headquarters in Rukum.

9. Participated 5th Meeting of State Parties (5MSP) at Bangkok. (13-21 September 2003)

Mr. Hari Jang Shah and Mrs. Bhagawati Gauttam (Landmine Victims) Participated 5th Meeting of State Parties and Landmine Survivor Network which was held on 13-21 September 2003 at Bangkok.

10. Participated and played active role in Orientation program on 2 December 2003 organized by NCBL in Kathmandu. (2 December 2003)

Mr. Hari Jang Shah from Hamro Awaj and other mine victims participated in Orientation program among the victims of mines which was organized by NCBL in Kathmandu on 2 December 2003.

11. Participated a national seminar on "Landmines and Disability" organized by NCBL.

(3 Dec, 2003)

Hari Jang Shah participated a national seminar on "Landmines and Disability" organized by NCBL on 3 December 2003. On the occasion, delivering his speech he shared his experiences of Geneva and Bangkok Meeting and of Raising the Voices. He also reported their activities and appealed both parties to stop using landmines. From that program it became easier to draw attention of different organizations, government authorities, media etc. to make aware about the problem of landmines and plight of the victims. Some more victims from Ramechhap and Dading district became the member of "Hamro Awaj / NCBL."

12. Organized a meeting among the Landmines & Conflict Victims in Rukum District.

(30 December 2003)

Hamro Awaj organized a meeting among the landmine & conflict victims in Rukum District on 30 December 2003. Objective of the meeting was to bring all the victims of district together and raise their voice together against Landmines. Thirteen victims from the district were participated in the meeting.

13. Participated the program "Candle Lighting for Peace" (8th March 2004).

Bhagawati Devi Gauttam participated on the program of Candle Lighting for Peace, jointly organized in Kathmandu on the occasion of International Women's Day (8th March 2004).

14. Ganga Prasad Poudel a member of Hamro Awaj / NCBL participated in Mine Risk Education Program. (31 March, 2004)

Ganga Prasad Poudel a member of Hamro Awaj / NCBL participated in Mine Risk Education Program and conflict victim scholarship program in Ramechhap district organized by NCBL on 31 March 2004. On the occasion he delivered his speech beginning with a poem about how he gall victim and the situation he's facing. His right hand, spinal bone is injured and both legs are paralyzed due to mine accident. He wants to continue his effort on banning landmines.

15. On the behalf of NCBL Hari Jang Shah organized a Mine Risk Education program and conflict victim child scholarship program in Rukum District.

(4 May 2004)

Mr. Hari Jang Shah organized a Mine Risk Education program and conflict victim child scholarship program in Rukum District on the behalf of NCBL on 4 May 2004. .The local political party leaders, security forces, human rights organizations, victims and media were participated in that program. Bagawati Devi Gautam could not participate in that program due to blocked by Maoists.

16. Form District section committee (25 May 2004).

Committee was formed with a group of victims of Rukum as a District Section Committee of Hamro Awaj (Landmines Survivor Network Nepal) on 25 May 2004. Mr. Hari Jang Shah is a chairperson of the committee.

We hope disabilities people of landmines/IEDs can raise our voice all over the country and to make them familiar with the rights.

We realize our participation did strongly helped us to increase ability and to NCBL to its work against landmines.

We wish “Hamro Awaj” will be able to raise its voice for the people with disability in all over the country in near future.Activities of

"Hamro Awaj" (Our Voices)

(Landmines Survivors Network Nepal)

31 May 2004