Transforming conflicts for sustainable peace

Context

The impact of Nepal’s civil war, which lasted from 1996 to 2006, can still be felt in the country today. The armed conflict claimed 10,000 lives. It ended with the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the establishment of a Nepal in which power is divided between the central government and the provinces. However, many root causes of the conflict still remain today, posing a serious risk of resurgent violence.

Despite the new state structure, the provincial authorities are unstable and inefficient, and have been accused of corruption. Nepal is also facing an economic crisis, leading to rising public dissatisfaction with the government. Moreover, while the new constitution adopted in 2015 aims to boost inclusion, the constitutional provisions are not being implemented fully: women and disadvantaged sections of the population are excluded from decision-making. The transitional justice legislation, which aims to address violence committed during the conflict, is also stagnating. Victims and survivors are becoming increasingly frustrated and are losing hope.

Objective

Civil society can develop new local peace activities in Nepal that include women and disadvantaged groups, in particular. This counters conflict and builds peace.

Approach

The project supports victims and survivors of violent conflicts in developing ideas for memory work. It raises their concerns with state representatives and presses for the implementation of the transitional justice law.

The project also trains civil society organisations in non-violent conflict transformation, for example through theatre, mediation, dialogue and psychosocial support.

In addition, the project provides training to media representatives on engaging in conflict-sensitive journalism, tackling misinformation and disinformation, and reporting on initiatives for non-violent conflict resolution.

Last update: May 2025