On 18 September 2022, Amnesty International Nepal (AI Nepal) organized the second phase of “Amnesty International Nepal Leaders’ Summit for Human Rights Education and Change” at Butwal in Rupandehi district. A total of 71 people including leaders from 48 groups, groups-in-formation, and youth networks based in Bagmati, Lumbini, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces participated in the summit with active enthusiasm. Two individual members also attended the program.
Chief of Rupandehi District Coordination Committee, Umakant Chapain, inaugurated the event as the Chief Guest. Ramraj Pokhrel, Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists Rupandehi chapter was also present as a guest during the inaugural session. The event was chaired by Amnesty Nepal Chair Bipin Budhathoki. Amnesty Nepal’s former Chair Rajan Kuinkel and former vice-chair Parbata Acharya were also present at the event.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Chief Guest Chapain made a commitment to support Amnesty’s campaigns and walk together with the campaigners in the defence of human rights. The FNJ Rupandehi Chair Pokhrel praised the role Amnesty in the protection and promotion of human rights, advised the organization to be even more assertive in its campaigns.
The summit reflected, reviewed and discussed on human rights education and campaigns efforts of the organization picking up points to make the activities and campaigns even more synchronized, coordinated and impactful.
During the event, Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty Nepal presented the current strategic framework of Amnesty International, the decisions made by the Global Assembly in July 2022, and the current status of the governance reform process at Amnesty Nepal. Amnesty Nepal Chair Budhathoki explained, at length, the challenges the section faced during the last three years, the painful process of the governance reform initiated, and the journey ahead with some vital reforms at the membership level yet to happen.
The program was concluded with the sharing of feedback from the participants about the event where they dwelt on the timeliness of the event as well as on the positive vibe it created among members of AI Nepal.