The 21st National Council Meeting – Annual General Meeting (AGM) – of Amnesty International (AI) Nepal held on 29-30 September 2012 in Souraha, Chitwan. The AGM passed organization’s activity and financial report. Altogether 135 delegates participated in the AGM representing 69 local Groups that affiliated to AI Nepal. Some highlights of the AGM have been given below:
Inaugural Ceremony
An inaugural ceremony of the 21st AGM held on 28 September. Representative of the International Secretariat Clare Doube, the Director at the Strategy and Evaluation Program, inaugurated the AGM by lightning the candle amidst a program.
On the occasion Chief Guest Doube appreciated the role of Amnesty International Nepal to uplift the human rights situation in Nepal. Speaking at the program, former Chairperson and Advisor of AI Nepal Krishna Kandel made speech on human rights situation in Nepal and campaign of Amnesty International. Similarly, Advisor of AI Nepal Lokesh Dhakal informed about the role played by AI Nepal in the past. On the occasion Director of AI Nepal, Rameshwar Nepal shed light the activities of AI Nepal.
Other speakers of the inaugural session were former Acting Chairperson of AI Nepal Dhruba Kumar Karki, Chairperson of Human Rights and Peace Society Hom Kanta Choulagain, Chitwan District Committee President of Federation of Nepalese Journalists Janak Aryal, Chitwan District President of Nepal Bar Association Rajkumar Shrestha, Chitwan District representative of Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) Mukunda Dahal and Women Human Rights Defender Meena Kharel. On the occasion, more than 300 people representing from different walk of lives were present. The inaugural session was chaired by AI Nepal’s Chairperson Hem Kumar Khadka.
Business Sessions
The closed session went heavy with the discussion on Annual Report presented by General Secretary Rashmila Bhochhibhoya, Financial and Audit Report presented by Treasurer Surya Bahadur Adhikari and Activity Report of the National Secretariat presented by the Director Rameshwar Nepal. Similarly, Operational Plan along with proposed budget for the next year also were approved unanimously by the AGM.
Similarly, the AGM adopted Growth Strategy 2012-2016 and Youth Policy of the organization. To discuss about Growth Strategy, participants were divided into two working parties and outcome of the working parties were presented and adopted unanimously in the plenary.
Election of the New Board and Appeal Committee
The AGM also elected a 11-member National Executive Committee and 3-member Appeal Committee for the term 2012-2014.
 |
 |
| Delegate from local Group voting in the AGM | |
 |
|
| Returning Officer and AI Nepal’s official counting votes in a presence of AGM representatives. | |
Shambhu Thakur (Group-57, Janakpur) elected as the Chairperson while Surya Bahadur Adhikari (Group – 80, Kathmandu) elected as Vice-chairperson. Uttam Sapkota (Group – 34, Kathmandu) elected as General Secretary unanimously while Deek Prasad Ghimire (Group -11, Biratnagar) and Pratap Poudel (Group – 48, Baglung) elected as the Deputy General Secretary and Treasurer respectively to the National Executive Committee (NEC). Likewise, Saraswati Gautam (Group-2, Surkhet) and Manju Aryal (Group-42, Gorkha) elected unanimously as the NEC Member (women seats). Similarly, Kumar Ghimire (Group-35, Kathmandu), Chet Bahadur Magar (Group- 78, Lalbandi), Prabin Agrawal (Group – 32, Kathmandu) and Shesh Kumar Niroula (Group-60, Damak) elected as the NEC Members.
The AGM also elected Appeal Committee for the same term. Elected unanimously to the Committee are Yashoda Kumari Upadhyaya (Group – 68, Nepalgunj) as the Coordinator and Namuna Niroula Dahal (Group – 70, Kakarvitta) as the member (woman seat) while Thakur Prasad Baral (Group – 1, Dhankuta) elected as the Member of the Committee.
Earlier, National Executive Committee appointed Prakash Bhandari (former Board Member of AI Nepal) as Returning Officer according to AI Nepal’s Statute and AGM By-laws. He published the program for election and completed all the process required.
Closing Ceremony
A closing ceremony of 21st AGM organized on 30 September. In ceremony, outgoing Chairperson Hem Kumar Khadka handed over the ignited candle which is the emblem of AI to the newly elected Chairperson Shambhu Thakur. Speakers including the newly elected Chairperson Thakur, immediate past Chairperson Khadka, representative of International Secretariat Clare Doube, Out-going Advisors Krishna Kandel and Lokesh Dhakal and Returning Officer Prakash Bhandari made their closing remarks. Returning Officer Prakash Bhandari in the same program awarded certificates to the candidates elected in National Executive Committee and Appeal Committee.
 |
 |
| Closing Ceremony | Returning Officer Prakash Bhandari (Left) handing over certificate |
 |
 |
| Outgoing Chairperson Hem Kumar Khadka (Right) handing over enlightened candle to newly elected Chairperson Shambhu Thakur | Dhan Prasad Regmi, Convener of AI Nepal Group – 64, Chitwan (left) handing over souvenir |
On the occasion Chitwan based AI Nepal’s affiliated Groups 33 and 64 provided souvenir to every participants of the AGM.