Supporting the Constitution-Writing Process in Nepal
 |
Journalists plug their equipment into the CA's internal broadcast system to receive live feeds of proceedings.
|
Step by step, Nepal is moving along the road to peace. The Constituent Assembly (CA), elected April 10, 2008, has been tasked with drafting Nepal's new constitution, while also addressing significant economic, social, and political issues.
However, many of the country's new CA members had never held public office before the election and lacked legislative experience. Consequently, some of the legislators were unfamiliar with, and poorly informed about, the issues that were expected to surface during the constitution-writing process. As the work began, it was imperative to ensure that deliberations would be conducted professionally and that the CA's members would support a transparent and inclusive constitution-writing process grounded in public outreach and media coverage.
To support the Secretariat of the Legislative Parliament, OTI has provided assistance in two important ways:
First, to create a professional public-information interface for the assembly, OTI renovated facilities for a media resource center and provided equipment for an internal broadcast system. The system uses a plug-in capacity, providing reporters with live audio and video feeds of the CA proceedings. The center can accommodate up to 80 journalists, allowing them to closely follow deliberations. To date, 39 TV and radio organizations have used the facility, including CNN, the BBC, and Al-Jazeera, as well as Indian and Nepalese stations.
 |
This monitor at the CCD is linked to the CA hall via a fiber-optic connection.
|
Second, OTI, the United Nations Development Programme, and other donors provided equipment and rented space for the Centre for Constitutional Dialogue (CCD). The center was established to provide training, expert advice, information, and a space where CA members and the general public can meet to discuss issues. More than 90 CA members have signed up for the center's basic computer training and 75 have enrolled in English classes. The CCD also conducts CA–Civil Society Forums, which enable legislators to meet and exchange ideas with civil society groups that focus on issues central to the new constitution.
The centers are providing the CA with important tools as it undertakes its critical state-building work. These tools will help CA members to better meet the public's high expectations and create a constitution that works for the people of Nepal.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Jennifer Boggs Serfass, Program Manager, 202-712-1004, jboggs@usaid.gov.
|
