International aid to Nepal is failing to address democracy, peace, human rights and overarching poverty outside Kathmandu, a Brussels conference will be told this Friday (20 April).

Despite the end of the decade-long raging conflict, restoration of democracy and the inclusion of the Maoists in the country's new government, the situation in Nepal remain volatile.

The ongoing peace process is too Kathmandu centric with no attention and initiative on "peace building from below" coupled with no "peace dividend" reaching to the people in rural and remote Nepal yet. And, this certainly indicates a huge failure on the part of the government and donors in Nepal.

The consequent "mass frustration" is obvious in the ongoing Terai unrest and agitation by the indigenous communities; with threat of even greater manifestations that would definitely jeorpadize the already fragile peace process and democracy in Nepal.

Anti-poverty, human rights, peace and pro-democracy activists believe that due attention paid on "Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation in rural and remote Nepal" is the foundation for peace building from below.

Titled Looking Beyond Kathmandu: Challenges and Opportunities for Peace-Building from Below, the seminar will explore the political, diplomatic, economic and social policies which are required to build a just and lasting peace in one of the world's poorest countries.

Who?

Speakers will include: Gauri Pradhan, President of the Human Rights Alliance, who has been appointed the National Human Rights Commissioner by Nepal's new government; Dr Renu Raj Bhandari, founder of the Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) in Nepal, and Bijay Raj Gautam, Director of the country's largest human rights group, the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC). Representatives of the main European Union institutions have also been invited to attend.

Where?

Scotland House, 6 Rond Pont Schuman, Brussels

When?

Friday 20 April, 9.30-18.00.

The seminar is being organised by the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), and three Dutch anti-poverty organisations: ICCO (the inter-church organisation for development cooperation), Kerk in Actie and Plan Netherlands.

For further information, please contact Prerna Bomzan on pbomzan@eepa.be / +32 (0)2 30 07 32 and/or Mei Ling Liem on meiling.liem@icco.nl / +31 (0)30 880 1524. Interviews with participants can be arranged.