| In Nepal,
the inequities in the access and ownership
of natural productive resources, and unequal
relations of power based on ethnicity, caste,
age, sex, gender, religion, and class have
been eroding the basic human rights of Nepali
individuals and communities. These same
factors are also responsible for the forced
migration of economically poor and marginalized
people into towns and cities to earn their
livelihood. Recent years have also seen
increasing unemployment, increases in traffic
in and violence against women and children,
the increasing trend of youth migration
away from their native villages, and the
depletion of agricultural productivity.
The globalization of open market economic
policies and the exploitation-based model
of development have further aggravated social
and economic injustices, simultaneously
widening the gap between the 'haves' and
'have-nots' with increasing levels of poverty
and nutritional security.
To address these numerous and multi-faceted
issues, Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC)
was established on April 1, 1991. WOREC
works in partnership with grassroots people
in order to resolve the major socio-economic,
cultural and human rights injustices prevalent
in Nepal in order to work towards the attainment
of social justice and sustainable livelihood
at the community level. WOREC's main goal
is to prevent the trafficking of persons
from a human rights perspective. Accordingly,
all of WOREC's projects work towards this
goal with the understanding that only a
multi-faceted approach which acknowledges
the numerous and complex causes of trafficking
will be effective in eliminating the unequal
relations of power based on gender, class,
caste, religion, etc. that predominate,
and in achieving human rights for all Nepali
girls, boys, women and marginalized groups.
WOREC currently operates a number of anti-trafficking,
advocacy, women's health, child's rights
and community development programs in various
districts. While remaining firmly committed
to community-based grassroots projects which
empower and mobilize local communities to
address and overcome existing inequalities,
there is also the recognition of the need
to influence and educate those in power,
such as local, regional and national governments,
in order that the policy level may also
support the changes at the grassroots level.
Evidently, over the years, our work has
transcended much beyond the initial intent
of rehabilitation of trafficked persons.
With the acquisition of the effective knowledge,
over a decade of experience in the community,
and partnering with other organizations,
WOREC's approach has evolved to its present
day form. It operates with the principle
of empowering community people through a
rights-based approach, rather than imposing
short term benefits, in order to prevent
human rights violations. |
