Sustainable Peace and Harmony

Nepal is a country looking forward to development and prosperity. Nepal cannot claim to be progressing towards development without unity, peace, tolerance, and harmony when backward ideas still prevent communities from seeing all humans as being equal. The difference between religions, cultural, ethnic, and regional communities still remains deeply entrenched in the societal fabric. There is a need to promote and preserve diversified common cultural capital by internalizing the principle of unity in diversity that defines Nepali identity.

NMWWS works to establish peace, tolerance, and harmony amongst different religious, cultural, ethnic, and regional communities. NMWWS focuses on inter-religious dialogues, interaction on religious diversity and the importance of co-existence, community-level awareness, social media campaigns, joint cultural celebrations among different faith groups, and training for faith leaders on different social issues.

In a diverse society, religious peace and harmony are crucial for fostering mutual respect and understanding among different communities. Various initiatives have made significant strides in promoting interfaith dialogue and collaboration, with a focus on health, social, and cultural integration.

Engaging Religious Leaders for Youth Empowerment (2014)

In 2014, a groundbreaking project aimed to reduce cultural barriers to healthcare for Muslim youths by engaging religious leaders. The project focused on:

  • Providing adolescents and their parents in 29 Madrasas across three districts with crucial social and financial skills to empower them economically and socially.

  • Enhancing access to quality family planning services for individuals and couples, thereby supporting informed reproductive choices.

  • Addressing issues such as child and early marriage, and promoting practices that support young women’s health and rights.

Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Religious Freedom (2021)

In 2021, several key initiatives were undertaken to promote peace and understanding among diverse faith communities:

  • Faith leaders and ethnic communities engaged in discussions about constitutional rights and social concerns, fostering a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives.

  •  A province-level interaction among faith leaders emphasized the importance of coexistence, respect, and harmony among different religions, contributing to peacebuilding and social cohesion.

  • Celebrating festivals like Eid al-Adha, Dashain, Chhath Parva, Christmas, and Buddha Purnima together, these events delivered powerful messages of interreligious unity and mutual respect.

 

Addressing Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence (2021-2024)

Recent efforts have also focused on addressing pressing community issues:

  • Faith leaders received training on mental health issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing their role in supporting mental well-being in their communities.

  • Faith leaders were made aware of their critical role in ending GBV and advocating for a safer, more supportive environment for all community members.

These initiatives highlight the essential role of religious and community leaders in fostering a culture of peace, respect, and mutual understanding. By addressing social, cultural, and health-related challenges through collaborative efforts, we can build stronger, more harmonious societies where every individual is valued and empowered.