Nepali people were fully able to enjoy their individual freedoms along with other civil rights following the restoration of democracy in 1990. INSEC contributed institutionally to implement the universally acknowledged basic norms and values of human rights into practice In the changed context, promoting awareness among people about human rights and the democratic issues was required. However, sensitizing people to be a part of the campaign launched for their inherent rights was not free from challenges.
Autocratic rule was in place for long in the country and people were not given their freedom of speech. INSEC, which was established in this backdrop as a non-government organization, has established strong foundation for the guarantee of people’s rights and justice within two decades of its establishment. INSEC’s attempts have also been laudable in the sense that these have worked toward protecting self-esteem and the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of people. The organization has also created an environment for people to involve themselves in the institutional development of democratic polity. Primarily there was the lack of education. The programs on civilian sensitization were null and awareness level of people on human rights awareness was almost zero. Similarly, establishing an organized institution on behalf of citizenry was also not easy. People were in the dark in terms of acquiring minimum knowledge on human rights norms. In this context, INSEC involved in domesticating the international standards and in implementing them in practice through national legislations.
Given that democratic movements are becoming a facet of human rights movement, INSEC deserves the foremost position in the collective efforts to establish human rights. The organization was established two decades ago only on the personal commitment and without basic infrastructures. It is admirable that INSEC has extended its networks across the country and produced thousands of human rights defenders. INSEC was established at an appropriate time on translating the issues of human rights and fundamental freedom into practice. INSEC is involved in promoting awareness down to every village in the country through human rights education, in documenting the incidents of human rights violations and publishing Human Rights Yearbook exactly on the scheduled day by compiling these incidents. Similarly, it was involved in providing legal remedy and awareness program on Kamaiya liberation, in the institutional development of election observation, protection of people’s lives during armed conflict and rehabilitation of the internally displaced people. Advocacy for social justice and the rights of the child, children as zone of peace campaign, creating just environment for conflict victims and the local level facilitation for the reconciliation of the conflicting parties of the past are some other areas of INSEC’s involvement. Moreover, it has worked for the development of human rights culture, ending impunity, the creation of just society, management of transitional period, establishing base for the sustainable peace and enabling security and rule of law. These works of INSEC will be always remembered. Be that through sensitization campaigns, awareness programs on radio, radio listeners’ club or through child rights awareness groups; INSEC has contributed to the country greatly. Its advocacy for translating the basic norms of human rights into practice among citizenry and the role in spreading awareness about human rights is notable.
I have been working with INSEC for 18 years. I started to work with INSEC collaboratively since the human rights movement in Nepal started to advance in an organized way. Therefore, I assume that it is my responsibility to comment on the role played by INSEC for social change. I have to remember the strong will power, relentless struggle and commitment toward human rights of INSEC founder duos – Late Prakash Kaphle and Sushil Pyakurel. Their attempts heightened the human rights movement of Nepal into an organized one and also played important role in the establishment of a national human rights institution – the NHRC as such. I did not get opportunity to be acquainted with Late Prakash Kaple. However, as I have got opportunity to work collaboratively with Sushil Pyakurel and have even learnt from him a lot on human rights issues, I am thankful to him. Their contribution to the institutionalization of human rights movement is unparalleled. I have received firsthand information on the history of human rights movement in Nepal through him. The human rights movement in Nepal is embedded with the establishment of INSEC as well. I would like to admire Sushil Pyakurel’s indefatigable personality, far-reaching vision, the capacity to institutionalize human rights movement and the liberal attitude that encourages the youths to be involved for the cause of human rights. I fully respect the contribution, commitment and efficiency of the present and former leadership of INSEC, its executive committee and staff members.
INSEC has contributed importantly to establish human rights movement as a way of life of the general Nepalis. Lately, I have been working in collaboration with INSEC on security related issues of the citizenry, rule of law and also on enabling the law implementing bodies of the state especially Nepal Police. This has been an encouraging experience. Overall, INSEC has been able to translate the principle of neutrality into practice and establish itself as a reliable organization among people. The tasks such as making human rights movement trustworthy and protecting the works of INSEC campaign should be the concern of all the human rights communities and the proponents of democracy. All the concerned should take initiation toward creating an environment in which the works on human rights and social justice initiated and accomplished by INSEC will be acknowledged as an important aspect of Nepali society.
(Mr. Budhathoki is Human Rights activist and, Conflict and Security Analyst. He also works as the National Advisor to United States Institute of Peace (Nepal) established by the American Congress)