HUMAN

HUManist Association of Nepal

Lobbying and Advocacy

Lobbying and advocacy at the central level especially the politically influential institutions, groups, organizations and the individuals is equally important to effect the evolution of appropriate law and the legal instruments to deal with the human right abuses of the individuals from superstition induced activities.  It is very difficult to evolve the effective legal instruments to deal with social evils of various kinds especially in the society where often it is difficult to distinguish a social evil from cultural and religious practices or where many of the superstitious practices have the religious and cultural roots and are normally accepted by the people at large.  For example, Kumari Cult or fatalism, fortune telling and supernatural healers.  Though it is extremely difficult to carry out the advocacy work against such practices, it is perhaps the most important activity that Humanist organization should persistently carry out to inform and influence civil society and the concerned institutions and be involved in the process of effecting desirable changes.  HUMAN has launched several advocacy initiatives jointly with other human right organizations.  HUMAN has formed a broad coalition and networking with human right organizations in the country and has participated in the joint campaign against human right abuses by the government and other fundamentalist and communal forces.  This activity is one of the priority activities of HUMAN.  HUMAN has supported many advocacy campaign of national and international significance and has written protest letters, appeal and has launched demonstrations against the human right abuses.