Magnacarta Center Nepal (MCC) is a non-governmental and non-profit organization. It is devoted to the promotion of peace, human rights and sustainable development. It is committed to democracy and continual strengthening of democratic system. It adheres to democratic values as life style and recognizes that the real beneficiaries of democracy are the people themselves. This Organization has been inspired by these commitments, assumptions and concepts for active and creative contribution for the promotion of peace, human rights and sustainable development of the country. It intends to play catalytic role for transformation of Nepalese society.
MCC intends to contribute for the protection and promotion of human rights over the globe. It also seek to carry out profound study and detailed research on the issues relevant to progress and prosperity of the country and formulation of clear vision through serious and meaningful discussions and thereby play an effective role in social services sector. Apart from general human rights protection and promotion, the primary focus of MCC is to advocate on behalf of vulnerable women, children and other socially and culturally marginalized section of the society for the defense of their rights. MCC believes in zero tolerance against violation of human rights without impunity.
Objectives
The main objective of the organization is to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights. The specific objectives are as follows:
• Contribute to the promotion of lasting peace
• Promote social justice through fair democratic practices
• Contribute to strengthen rule of law and good governance
• Contribute to protection of human rights of women, children, people with disabilities, elder and marginalized people
• Contribute to protection and promotion of human rights of refugees and migrant workers
• Contribute to protection of rights of human rights defenders
• Contribute the environment and heritage conservation and right to development
• Contribute to ensure rights of food sovereignty of the people
Relevance
Peace is not only desirable but is also essential condition to assure human rights and the political, social, and economic growth of individuals and communities. This is also applicable for the acceleration of the process of sustainable development to improve the quality of life of the people. Nepal has been reeling under acute pressure to restore peace and tranquility, presently; establishing lasting peace has remained the top agenda of the country.
Benefits from the restoration of peace cannot be reaped unless the environment exists for people to enjoy human rights freely and unconditionally. The safeguard of human rights, hence, is the foremost condition for the success of democratic society.
Political instability, impunity, prolonged transitional phase are main challenges to maintain rule of law in Nepal. Human rights violators as well as criminals are being protected by the state actors and political parties. Transitional justice mechanisms are yet to be remained set up to address the serious human rights violation cases of decade long armed conflict.
Nepal is suffering from pervasive property. Past efforts to address poverty problems have not been effective as around thirty-eight percent of total population is still below the absolute poverty line. This situation constitutes a threat to peace and human rights.
Nature of Nepalese society is diversified by different caste, language, culture and so on. People are being discriminated on the base of caste, culture, language, economic and geographical status. In this context the priority agenda of the nation has become inclusion and mainstreaming of the marginalized and excluded people.
Because acute poverty and unemployment, many people including women have been migrated crossing the national boarder for survival. From the result of unsafe migration especially women and children are facing more problems such as, child labor, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, low wages, and various forms of discrimination.
Hence, conditions of peace, justice, human rights and sustainable development are all interconnected and the absence of one hinders the efforts directed towards others, therefore; they need to be considered simultaneously for achieving lasting prosperity.
Policies
• Undertake as well as participate in activities that assist to achievement of above objectives
• Foster collaboration with Government agencies, NGOs, INGOs and other institutions in undertaking projects/programs in the above fields
• Review and monitor the status of situation in above fields and disseminate information so as to generate awareness and to build consensus on major areas
• Undertake other activities that will assist in the achievement of above objectives
Basic Working Methodology
People centered activities are atop of all activities for this organization. Work desins and field works are controlled by below mentioned philosophy.
• Undertake of research activities for policy and program designing
• Public participation focused on excluded, marginalized, vulnerable, economically backward, socially deprived individuals and communities
• Gender sensitiveness in program formulation and implementation
• Field based activities
• Periodic monitoring and evaluation
• Objective feedback system
• Documentation, publication, dissemination and record keeping
• Networking and coordination in different level
• International Solidarity for human rights
Working approaches
MCC pursues the following working approaches:
• Monitoring, fact finding, documentation, responding and research of human rights violation issues
• Advocacy, lobbying, education, training, litigation, conferences, awareness raising for domestication and implementation of international human rights standards
• Coordination of electoral observation; advocacy, training and research on conflict transformation; protection of refugees and internally displaced persons; campaign against racial discrimination and uphold right to self-determination of indigenous people and minorities
Resources
• Membership fees
• Income form all kinds of movable and immovable assets
• Gifts and presents
• Grants-in-aid/ loans from NG. NGOs, INGOs and other donor communities
Establishment
MCC is established by the human rights defenders including lawyers, sociologists, teachers and civil society members. The organization is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. The organization is registered in the District Administration Office of Kathmandu in 2011 and affiliated with Social Welfare Council Nepal and District Development committee Kathmandu.
MCC is governed by an executive committee consisting with chairperson, vice chair person, general secretary, treasurer and members. The executive committee is elected from among the general members by general assembly for a period of two years.
Transparency in activities, commitment to the rules and regulations and other relevant national and international norms and promotion of collaborative linkage among concerned institutions are guiding principles of the organization.
