Meeting with Lara Deramaix, Associate SSR Advisor, International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT)

Lara Deramaix, Associate SSR Advisor, International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) visited LAHURNIP office on 28 June 2017 to hold meeting with Indigenous Peoples leaders and experts. Meeting was focused on three major areas: Justices, security and hydropower. She inquired about the IPs situation and access in these areas where donors have heavy support. In response, IPs representatives expressed their disappointment over the poor access of IPs in these areas. Further, they underlined that court, law are fostering racism if we see it from the perspective of IPs and Madhesis. IPs culture is criminalized with heavy punishment. For instance; beef is must to perform some rituals in most of the IPs community. However, they are denied to do so as cow slaughtering is legally prohibited. There are many cases where IPs have been sentenced for twelve years for cow slaughtering. Whenever, cases are filed in court to repeal such law, court has given verdict to not to bring such cases to the court. Similarly, IPs representatives informed her about the discrimination against IPs on the basis of language. Likewise, IPs representatives highlighted that there is poor implementation of rule of law when it comes to the case of IPs. Supreme Court had given directive order to ensure the representative of IPs but this has not been implemented yet. Further, IPs representative requested Ms. Lara to convey their demand to the donors to ensure FPIC, increase access, and maintain disaggregated data based on ethnicity and social audit.

After hearing from the IPs, Ms. Lara stated that international engagement is important but they have limited space to change the situation. LAHURNIP board members, Chairperson and General Secretary of National Indigenous Women's Federation (NIWF), Dr. Krishna Bhattachan, Expert Advisor of LAHURNIP, Mr. Nanda Kandangwa, Indigenous Expert were among the participants.

The ISSAT is the division of Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Force (DCAF) and its main task is to provide practical support to the international community in its efforts to improve security and justice, primarily in conflict-affected and fragile states.