View Point (Spotlight Weekly)

Nepal At The Cross-roads

By Matthew Kahane

Nepal has been affected by an indigenous conflict for the last seven years, a conflict which has spread to almost all corners of the country, which has cost the lives of thousands of its citizens, disrupted the lives and livelihoods of tens – scores - of thousands of its citizens, destroyed parts of its physical and social infrastructure, and aroused the great concern of the international community. This concern has been reflected in the willingness of many States to help Nepal overcome what are widely seen as the root causes of the conflict – inequality in social standing and economic opportunity, discrimination against ethnic and occupational groups, poverty and remoteness, in some cases a sense of not being cared for by the authorities in the capital.

Three years ago Nepal joined the other States of the world in the Millennium Declaration, which was a succinct vision of a world enjoying “freedom from want and freedom from fear”. “Freedom from want” has now been translated into the Millennium Development Goals – “millennium” to reflect the year 2000 of the “common era”.

“Millennium Development Goals“ (and even more so of its abbreviated form MDGs) may sound pompous, official. But the reality is not pompous – the reality is girls and boys going to school, being able to read and write, learning skills and developing open, enquiring minds – as a matter of course. It means “turning on the tap” and getting clean, plentiful water, fit to drink as a matter of course. It means surviving being born and surviving the first few years of childhood – as a matter of course. It means avoiding catching common illnesses and being cured of them if one catches them – as a matter of course. In short, the basic conditions and circumstances of life, whose provision is the basic task of Governments and issues on which Governments win or lose elections.

“Freedom from fear” is less easily measured in quantitative indicators. It is based on living in societies with well-established laws and rules, accepted by all citizens through openly taking part in drafting and approving laws and freely choosing those entrusted with implementing the laws and governing different countries

In his message for UN Day this year, the Secretary-General refers to UN workers around the world, particularly in war-torn countries, helping to relieve suffering, restore peace, and build new institutions. This can happen, in the Secretary-General’s words “only if you, the peoples, tell

Governments clearly what you expect – what kind of world you want to live in. If you do make your voices heard, loudly and firmly enough, we can indeed win through this crisis and build a better world, based on the rule of law”. The UN agencies, funds and programs in Nepal therefore try to “hear the people” by working with a range of institutions at the national and local levels to improve the lives of individual children, women and men in ways which are felt immediately. These include the Ministries of His Majesty’s Government, the Judiciary, the National Human Rights Commission, and organisations concerned, worried, about specific issues. We work with the media, because free, independent, professional and analytical media are essential for disseminating news and information, and ensuring transparency in public affairs.

The “UN“ in operational terms is the collective efforts of the people of member States. For example, three days ago, the first group of a total contingent of thirteen hundred officers and men – and four women – of the Royal Nepalese Army left for the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area wracked by a cruel civil war for several years now. This contingent joins in a proud tradition of Nepalese servicemen joining in the efforts of the international community, under UN auspices, to bring or maintain peace and security in various parts of the world. In every case, the men and women of the peace-keeping forces work within very precise and carefully-defined rules of engagement, earning the respect of the parties, and monitoring and ensuring the observance of the fundamental human rights of people caught up in areas of conflict and tension, often not of their own making. In many cases, forces have to demonstrate their professionalism, patience, and self-discipline in difficult and tense situations. Almost all senior officers of the Nepalese armed forces have served in the UN peace-keeping forces. They have contributed to, and been witnesses of, the capacity of the United Nations to support States trying to resolve cross-border or civil conflict – without interfering in the internal affairs of those member States.

The recent Joint Ministerial Committee in Thimpu has agreed on the basis for a practical, fair and rapid resolution of the problems of the refugees from Bhutan who have found shelter in Nepal for the past dozen years. This has been possible due to a careful and open analysis by both sides of all the various aspects of the issue, in negotiations clearly aimed at finding a solution. We look forward to the smooth and rapid implementation of this agreement.

A lasting and just solution to the major internal conflict afflicting Nepal can only be found through carefully organized negotiations between the parties, founded on the many common concerns and points, and building on reaching agreements on these points first. Violence is no way to address political issues or differences; it makes ordinary people suffer cruelly; it embitters everybody; and it provides no solution. The UN calls on everybody to abandon violence, and calls on the Maoist movement to return to the political process.

For this UN Day, the UN Country Team in Nepal wishes to highlight a basic condition for the well-being of all people, namely maternal health.

During the two hours we are devoting to this event, somewhere in Nepal a woman will die in childbirth or as a result of pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a disease – it is the basic event which has allowed each of us to be here today. To look at the basic facts:

* 90% of women deliver at home
* only some 10% of all births are attended by health care workers
* only one third of Nepal’s 75 districts have the facilities for comprehensive obstetric care
* early marriage and childbirth are major causes of ill-health among women, and therefore among mothers

It is clear that any effective work to improve reproductive health needs a true political commitment to empower women, and respect their rights and status in word and deed, today and every day.

(This article is based on a speech delivered by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Matthew Kahane on the occasion of the United Nations Day 2003)