2015 is, for many reasons, an exciting year ahead and promising to be eventful. Nepalese across the country –and abroad- may ask themselves how will the new Constitution look like, when will it see the light and what will it really mean for daily lives and for the development of Nepal? The global community, meanwhile, is about to firm up the shapes of the post 2015 agenda. Millennium Development Goals, the beacons to fight poverty for the last 15 years, will in the next 12 months hand over to the Sustainable Development Goals. While we have made significant progress towards a better and more equitable world this development journey needs to continue. What are the key ingredients for a sustainable development? Happiness, health and prosperity as we wish in New Year’s greeting? Freedom from want, fear and disaster? A balance between economy and ecology? Social harmony, tolerance and stability? Good governance, integrity and transparency? Love, a good family life and spiritual enlightenment? And, and and… Yes, development is a complex concept. Yet, there is a simple, but crucial value to embark with for a safe and successful journey. Respect for the other. Acknowledgement that all human beings are equal. Indeed, ensuring the dignity of the most vulnerable in society is at the very heart of sustainable development. The European Year for Development 2015 summarizes this in its motto “Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future”. One of the first meetings Ambassador Rensje Teerink and Head of Cooperation Andreas Roettger attended this year was with the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO). They were warmly received by FEDO’s President Mrs Durga Sob, Executive Director Bhim Bahadur and other senior members of FEDO at their office in Kupondole for a good discussion and they shared a simple but delicious lunch. Do you know that Dalits in Nepal have been facing caste based discrimination for centuries, being considered ritually “untouchable”? Do you agree with us that such concepts are not compatible with sustainable development in the 21st century? 7% of Nepal’s population are Dalit women and they in particular are often confronted with discrimination facing a triple alienation by caste, gender and class. For more than 20 years now FEDO has actively contributed with currently over 53800 members present in 56 districts of Nepal to give Dalit women a voice and dignity –at local, national and international level. It has been a pleasure for the EU to cooperate with FEDO since 2002 and we are looking forward to continue the journey with the value of dignity for all in our hearts and minds. It’s a matter of attitude.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 06:31:01 +0000
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