Security (Nepal)

This report investigates the security- and justice-related experiences and perceptions of people living in nine districts in Nepal affected by insecurity and weak governance. It assesses the perceptions of communities, civil society, local authorities, businesses, media, and security and justice providers, on local public safety, security and justice; how they have changed over the past two years; and key causes of insecurity.

Full report

On 1st November 2011, five years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Nepal, political parties finally made a breakthrough by signing a historic 7-point agreement in Kathmandu.

The agreement decides on the contentious issues of army integration, constitution drafting and power sharing.

Why is it important?

Equitable economic recovery and improved public security are both key requirements for consolidating peace in Nepal. The private sector is deeply affected by insecurity: increasing criminality, forced donations, strikes, shutdowns and labour unrest stifle production and undermine investor confidence. At the same time, irresponsible and sometimes illicit business practice further fuels this cycle of public insecurity, resulting in yet more economic hardship. Breaking this cycle therefore has to be in the interest of responsible business leaders across Nepal.

Full report

These ‘snapshot’ briefings are part of a longer-term initiative by International Alert to help address the current gaps in knowledge and understanding between those actors at the district level and those in Kathmandu. Each briefing aims to outline current security and justice needs and challenges in a particular district, and advance constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges. The briefings are based on research undertaken as part of Alert’s work for the Initiative for Peacebuilding project.

Full report

This snapshot focuses on security and justice needs in Rukum, a district in the western hill region at the heart of the Maoist conflict in Nepal. It examines the security situation in the district four years after the signing of the peace agreement.

Full report

This briefing paper aims to outline priorities for international community support for the effective and accountable provision of security and justice in Nepal. It aims to highlight the need for utilising a participatory approaches in the promotion of people-centred reform of the security and justice system.

Full report

This snapshot briefing paper looks at the situation of security and justice provision in Mahottari district in the central Terai region of Nepal. Mahottari is a border district where the police struggle to control the activities of numerous armed and criminal groups, and levels of gender based violence are extremely high. This briefing assesses security and justice provision against this backdrop and outlines implications for national and international policy-makers.

Full report

This snapshot briefing paper looks at the situation of security and justice provision in Rasuwa district in the central region of Nepal. This sparsely populated mountain district is situated due north of Kathmandu and shares a border with China on its northern side. The security situation in Rasuwa district is fair in comparison to many other districts, particularly those in the Terai where the police struggle to control the activities of numerous armed and criminal groups.

Full report

Equitable economic recovery and improved public security are both key requirements for consolidating peace in Nepal. The private sector is deeply affected by insecurity: increasing criminality, forced donations, strikes, shutdowns and labour unrest stifle production and undermine investor confidence. At the same time, irresponsible and sometimes illicit business practice further fuels this cycle of public insecurity, resulting in yet more economic hardship. Breaking this cycle therefore has to be in the interest of responsible business leaders across Nepal.

Briefing paper

International Alert, together with partners Antenna Foundation, Equal Access, Forum for Women, Law and Development, the Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal and Saferworld, recently held a series of trainings in Security Sector Reform (SSR) for civil society and media representatives in Nepal.

International Alert, together with partners Equal Access Nepal and Youth Action Nepal, recently completed a training course in Nepal for interns who will be responsible for undertaking research on Nepali youth’s experiences and perceptions of current security challenges and responses.

Equitable economic recovery is a key requirement for consolidating peace in Nepal, where the economic exclusion of various groups, ownership of productive resources by a small elite, and decades of failed development have fed both poverty and multiple conflicts. Public expectations of “peace dividends” remain high and are defined largely in terms of economic opportunity. The perceived failure of the peace process to meet these expectations thus far is fuelling increased frustration, particularly amongst young people.