Created: 12 August 2014
The Government of Nepal is organizing the 18th SAARC Summit in November 2014 in Kathmandu. In this context, on the 24th and 28th of July 2014, the NGO Federation of Nepal, a People’s SAARC focal organization in Nepal, organized civil society consultation meetings for the preparation of People’s SAARC 2014.
Participants from more than 50 Civil Society Organisations expressed their views for the effective organisation of People’s SAARC 2014 events. Similarly, representatives from some INGOs and funding agencies also participated to express their solidarity and support. Dr. Netra Timsina (Co-ordinator, South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication- SAAPE), Dr. Sarbaraj Khadka (member, People’s SAARC regional steering committee), Ms. Sharmila Karki (President, NGO Federation of Nepal), Mr. Subhodhraj Pyakurel (task force member, Regional Initiative for South Asian Human Rights Mechanism), Mr. Shanta Lall Mulmi (one of the leading anti-tobacco campaigners) briefly shared previous experience of People’s SAARC events to ease the discussion and to form host country organizing committee, and thematic committees to expedite the preparation. Building a direct mechanism to establish the role of civil society in the SAARC process was the prime focus of the discussion. The outcomes of the thematic discussion will be compiled and used as a knowledge document. Based on that document, the steering committee will prepare a precise demand document, which will be submitted to the official process of the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu.
