Nepal: Peace/Constitutional Reports and Statements

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Nov. 21, 2014
Carter Center Urges Political Leaders to Reach Consensus to Conclude Nepal's Constitution-Drafting
In recent weeks, as the Jan. 22 deadline to promulgate a new constitution approaches, Nepal's constitution-making process has become increasingly polarized. The Carter Center urges all parties to recommit to the spirit of consensus upon which the peace process and constituent assembly are founded and to find broadly acceptable compromises to bring constitution-making to a successful close.

Sept. 8, 2014
Carter Center Transfers Nepal Election Database
At a small event today, The Carter Center formally marked the transfer of its Nepal observation research database to Social Science Baha, a Kathmandu-based nonprofit organization that promotes and enhances the study and  research of social sciences in Nepal.

Aug. 20, 2014
Final Report: Political Transition Monitoring in Nepal, 2009-2014 (PDF) (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In this final report, The Carter Center summarizes the key political and electoral findings observed by the Center; explains briefly the history and context of Nepal's political transition process; describes in-depth the Center's efforts to design and implement a political transition observation project; and explains the methodology, achievements, lessons learned, and relevant questions for future consideration for those who may be interested to pursue similar work.

June 30, 2014
Carter Center Praises Spirit of Compromise In Nepal But Calls for Renewed Political Support for Constituent Assembly(नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
Based on a recent field assessment, The Carter Center reports that while Nepal's second constituent assembly has made commendable progress to prepare a new constitution in a spirit of compromise, many Nepalis are concerned about the slow pace of the process to date, a perceived lack of engagement by senior political leaders on contentious issues, and the persistence of long-term risks to the credibility of the political process.

May 16, 2014
Final Report: Observing Nepal's 2013 Constituent Assembly Election (PDF)
In this final report, The Carter Center assesses the conduct of Nepal's election against the country's legal framework and obligations for democratic elections. The Center hopes that the findings and recommendations in this report will be taken into consideration by the constituent assembly, the election commission, the government, political parties, and civil society when discussing electoral reform.

Feb. 28, 2014
The Carter Center Reports That Public Perception of Local Governance in Nepal Has Improved; Undue Influence of Political Parties Continues
In a report released today, The Carter Center reports that public perception of local governance has improved over the past year. However, mismanagement of local-level budgets and the persistent role of political parties in influencing local development priorities remain, posing a significant challenge to local development and governance.

Nov. 21, 2013
Carter Center Congratulates Nepal on Well-Conducted Election Process (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
The Carter Center finds that Nepal's Nov. 19 constituent assembly election was conducted remarkably well, especially in the face of attempts by boycotting parties to disrupt the process through violence. The Election Commission of Nepal estimated the voter turnout at more than 70 percent.

Oct. 31, 2013
Carter Center Notes Progress and Concerns Ahead of Nepal's Nov. 19 Election (पूर्ण विवरण पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, The Carter Center offered a series of recommendations to Nepal's election commission, candidates and parties, and government to support the conduct of a credible constituent assembly election on Nov. 19.

Oct. 1, 2013
The Carter Center Applauds Nepal Election Commission's Efforts to Improve Voter Roll; Key Challenges Remain
In a report released today, The Carter Center applauds the Election Commission of Nepal's efforts to finalize a new voter roll for the constituent assembly elections on Nov. 19, 2013, while also identifying areas of concern such as potential voters who have not been registered.

March 13, 2013
The Carter Center's Long-Term Observation In Nepal Indicates That Identity-Based Political Activity Has Decreased (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, The Carter Center notes that identity-based political activity in Nepal has decreased since May 2012, providing space for much-needed civic dialogue on federalism and social inclusion. The long-term observation focused on the growing tendency toward identity-based political movements in Nepal since 2006, particularly movements focused on federalism, and those which increased around the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May 2012.

Feb. 28, 2013
The Carter Center Commends Nepal Election Commission's Voter Registration Outreach Efforts, Also Hightlights Areas of Concern (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, The Carter Center commends the Election Commission of Nepal's latest mobile voter registration outreach drive, but lower registration rates of women and young citizens, data quality, and an uncertain national political context remain areas of concern that must be rectified to improve the voter roll before the next election is held.

Jan. 8, 2013
Nepal's Peace Process Needs Elections
This op-ed by Jimmy Carter was published in the Kathmandu Post and Kantipur newspaper.
I have a great interest in the future of this beautiful country, and was honored to visit Nepal three times in the year leading up to the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008. Since that time we have monitored the peace process continually, in Kathmandu and throughout all other regions. Observers from The Carter Center have been deployed in Nepal since 2007. Our observers find that Nepali citizens remain passionate supporters of democracy but are increasingly frustrated with their leadership for breaking its promises time after time.

July 26, 2012
Carter Center Urges Election Commission of Nepal to Continue Efforts to Increase Turnout, Improve Data Quality on New Voter Register (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, Carter Center observers found that the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) continues to make progress toward finalizing a new voter register but faces challenges related to registration turnout, access to eligibility documents such as citizenship certificates, and data quality.
In English:  Executive Statement (PDF) > | Full Statement (PDF) >

June 20, 2012
Land Commitments in Nepal's Peace Process: An Update on Implementation (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
Land is central to the livelihoods of many Nepalis, and political struggles over land and its equitable distribution have a long history. Land was also a central feature of Nepal's decade-long conflict. In the then-Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist's initial 40-Point Demands, issued in 1996, the party called for "land under control of the feudal system [to be] confiscated and distributed to the landless and homeless" and for land belonging to certain classes of people to be "confiscated and nationalized."

June 8, 2012
Carter Center Observations on Recent Identity-based Mobilization in Nepal (PDF)
From 2009-2014, The Carter Center conducted a mission to report on Nepal's peace process and constitution drafting. Teams of national and international long-term observers were deployed in each of the country's five development regions. Over the course of the mission, the observations they produced were shared with the Nepali public and international stakeholders in a series of reports.

May 24, 2012
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Nepal (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
I am concerned by the tensions, prolonged strikes, and incidents of political violence that have taken place throughout Nepal in recent weeks. Positively, it appears that these tensions have reduced in the last few days following the signing of several agreements between the Government of Nepal and protesting groups, as well as some commendable initiatives at the local level.  However, the risk that the situation could again deteriorate in the coming days or weeks remains present.

May 9, 2012
The Carter Center's Information Sessions on the Election Commission of Nepal's Voter Registration with Photograph Program (PDF) (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) is conducting a nationwide voter registration process to create a new computerized voter register. The Carter Center has been invited and accredited by the ECN to observe the ongoing voter registration process. The Carter Center's observation objectives are to support the electoral process, to promote confidence in the ECN and the voter registration process to the degree warranted, and to contribute to the overall strengthening of the democratic process.

March 14, 2012
Open Letter from Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to the People of Nepal (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
My colleagues at The Carter Center and I commend Nepal's government and political parties for closing 13 of 28 cantonments and completing the discharge process for those Maoist combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement. These are important steps toward completing the peace process.

Jan. 31, 2012
Over 10 Million Nepalis Registered to Vote, Ensuring Access for Remaining Unregistered Voters Crucial(नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, The Carter Center commended the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) for registering more than 10 million Nepali citizens to date, and encouraged the ECN to undertake additional efforts to reach out to those who have yet to participate in the process.

Nov. 23, 2011
Carter Center Observations on Political Parties in Local Bodies (PDF) (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
This document summarizes Carter Center observations on the role of political parties in local bodies such as District Development Committees (DDCs), Village Development Committees (VDCs), project users‟ groups, and school management committees.1 It is not a comprehensive survey, but rather a general overview of major trends and dynamics identified by party-affiliated and non-party-affiliated Nepalis interviewed by observer teams at the district and village levels. The report is intended to serve as a brief background document for individuals or organizations seeking to better understand the ways that political parties participate in and influence local bodies.

Nov. 3, 2011
The Carter Center Welcomes Agreement by Nepal's Political Parties (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
The Carter Center welcomes the recent agreement by Nepal's political parties to address key outstanding issues in the peace process, including the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants, drafting of the constitution, and other important points.

Aug. 4, 2011
Political Space in Nepal has Improved Since Constituent Assembly Election but Challenges Remain, Sustainability Still in Question (PDF) (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, Carter Center observers found broad consensus that political space has opened across Nepal since the 2008 Constituent Assembly election. Improvements in the behavior of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) cadres at the local level and a decline in armed group activity in parts of the Tarai were frequently cited as the main reasons for this change.

July 7, 2011
Second Interim Statement on the Election Commission of Nepal's "Voter Register with Photograph"
Program (PDF)  (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) is conducting a nationwide voter registration process to create a new computerized voter register.1 As part of broader efforts to observe the peace and constitutional processes at the local level, Carter Center observers have gathered information about the voter registration process from 40 of 75 districts since February 2011. The Center's observation objectives are to support the electoral process, to promote confidence in the ECN and the voter registration process to the degree warranted, and to contribute to the overall strengthening of the democratic process in Nepal. This report is intended to provide an impartial assessment of the voter registration process to date, including highlighting positive aspects, identifying potential weaknesses, and offering recommendations for steps that could be taken to strengthen the process.

July 7, 2011
Summary of The Carter Center's Second Interim Statement on the Election Commission of Nepal's "Voter Register with Photograph" Program (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) is conducting a nationwide voter registration process to create a new computerized voter register.[1]  The new register will replace the previous one, which was believed to contain many mistakes, including missing or misspelled names, entries of the same voters' names in multiple locations, and possibly some ineligible voters.[2]  As part of broader efforts to observe the peace and constitutional processes at the local level, Carter Center observers have gathered information about the voter registration process from 40 of 75 districts since February 2011.  The Center's observation objectives are to support the electoral process, to promote confidence in the ECN and the voter registration process to the degree warranted, and to contribute to the overall strengthening of the democratic process in Nepal.

May 30, 2011
Statement by The Carter Center on the Extension of Nepal's Constituent Assembly (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
The Carter Center welcomes the recent agreement by Nepal's political parties as well as their decision to extend the Constituent Assembly tenure by three months.

May 10, 2011
Carter Center: Local Peace Committee Functioning Has Improved, But Overall Effectiveness Remains Unclear (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
In a report released today, Carter Center observers found that although the overall functioning of Local Peace Committees (LPCs) has improved since November 2009, their effectiveness remains unclear and they continue to face serious challenges.

April 19, 2011
Carter Center Notes Progress in Nepal's Ongoing Voter Registration Process, Offers Suggestions to Address Key Challenges Ahead
In a report released today, Carter Center observers found that overall the Election Commission of Nepal's (ECN) voter registration process is moving forward, despite delays.

Feb. 28, 2011
Carter Center: Clashes Between Nepal's Political Party Youth Wings Have Decreased But YCL and UML Youth Force Continue to Seek Financial Gain (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
In a report released today, Carter Center observers found that overall clashes between Nepal's political party youth wings appear to have decreased. However, many activities of the Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) and, to a lesser extent, the CPN-UML Youth Force remain targeted toward financial gain, and youth wing activity continues to have a negative impact on security in many districts.

Dec. 30, 2010
Brief Overview of Political Dispute Resolution at the Local Level in Nepal (PDF)
This document summarizes Carter Center observations to date on methods of political dispute resolution at the district and village level as well as the role of political parties more broadly in local-level conflict resolution.  It also provides a brief overview of findings on non-political disputes and conflict resolution mechanisms. कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस् >

Nov. 23, 2010
The Carter Center Urges Swift Resolution to Nepal's Political Deadlock, Issues Report on Local Political and Peace Process (कृपयानेपालीमापढ्नुहोस्)
Mistrust among Nepal's political leaders, failure to implement previous commitments, and repeated unsuccessful efforts to form a new government pose threats to the peace process and constitutional drafting.  Swift resolution to the ongoing political deadlock is needed to get the process back on track. Meanwhile, key deadlines are approaching rapidly: the U.N. Mission in Nepal is scheduled to leave in January 2011 and the deadline for a new constitution is May 28, 2011.

July 23, 2010
Carter Center Observations on Discharged PLA Combatants (PDF)
This report details the limited observations of the Carter Center on discharged People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants. The findings contained in this report reflect information gathered through direct interviews with 20 PLA combatants who went through the formal discharge process, two family members of formally discharged combatants, and three combatants who left the cantonments but were not formally discharged.

June 22, 2010
Carter Center: Land Commitments in Nepal's Peace Process Only Partially Fulfilled (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
In a report released today, The Carter Center has found that the Maoists and successive governments have each only partially fulfilled land commitments as outlined in the November 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and subsequent agreements. In those accords, the Maoists committed to return land seized during the conflict and the then-Seven Party Alliance government committed to formulate policies for scientific land reform.

Feb. 22, 2010
Carter Center - Nepalis Want New Constitution to Promote Decentralization and Equality
According to a Carter Center report released today, Nepalis expect their new constitution to provide peace, security, and address basic needs.  They support measures to promote equality, inclusivity, and education for all; end discrimination; uplift disadvantaged communities; and improve access to the state and justice system.

Nov. 30, 2009
Carter Center Notes Poor but Improved Tarai Security Environment in Nepal
In a report released today, The Carter Center in Nepal describes the current security environment around the country and notes that while the situation across parts of the Tarai remains poor, it has moderately improved since early-2009.

Nov. 6, 2009
Carter Center Observations on Local Peace Committees (PDF)
This report is a review of Carter Center Long Term Observer (LTO) findings on Local Peace Committees (LPCs) from June – October 2009. The report is offered in the spirit of cooperation and respect, with the hope that its findings will be of use to the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction and its partners.

Aug. 26, 2009
The Carter Center Urges Progress on Nepal's Peace and Constitutional Processes, Increased Attention to the Local Level
Nepal has made significant progress on the path to peace and inclusive democracy over the past three years but the future of the process now appears in question. Reminiscent of the 1990s, political leaders in Kathmandu appear focused on zero-sum power politics at the expense of the constitution drafting, peace process, and provision of basic government services.

July 10, 2009
The Carter Center Continues Support to Nepal's Peace Process
The Carter Center commends the significant progress that Nepal has made on the path to peace and stability during the last three years, but notes with concern that the breakdown in consensus politics following the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, as well as the delay in implementing previous commitments, threatens to derail the progress made thus far.

April 13, 2009
Carter Center Observers Note Largely Peaceful By-Election Day, Progress in Electoral Conduct, Some Areas for Improvement
The Carter Center congratulates the people of Nepal, the election commission, and the political parties for a generally peaceful and orderly by-election process.