Regional Collaboration Asia
Regional Collaboration Asia
by DIPD on September 26, 2016
A Progress on Regional Collaboration
The Joint Mechanism for Political Party Strengthening (JOMPOPS) hosted sixteen delegates from Bhutan, four from Denmark and ten from Myanmar last week in Kathmandu.
In addition to the members of Parliament and influential political leaders from Bhutan and Myanmar, the visiting delegates comprised of the Hon. Lyonpo Dorji Choden, Minister for Works & Human Settlement, the Hon. Tshewang Jurmi, the Chairperson of National Commission for Women and Children, Bhutan, Mr. Manu Sareen, the former Minister for Equality, Denmark, Ms. Lone Loklindt, former MP, Denmark, and the Hon. Mya Thaung, Chair of Women and Children Rights Committee, Myanmar.
The main purpose of their visit was to attend the second regional conference on promoting women in politics; the first regional conference was held in Myanmar in March 2016. The visit also focused on strengthening overall collaboration among three DIPD’s partner countries in the region.
Informal Interactions
A number of informal interactions were planned by JOMPOPS during the visit in order to foster a deeper connection among politicians from the three countries. After the introduction meeting on the day of arrival on 19 September 2016, the visiting delegates went to a local resort outside Kathmandu for further interaction.
In the resort, the visiting delegates from Bhutan and Myanmar along with JOMPOPS members participated in the presentation sessions on Communication Skills by Mr. Manu Sareen and on Leadership by Ms. Lone Loklindt. These presentations were based on the practical insights from the Danish leaders thereby the participants said that they found them useful and asked many questions which had immediate relevance to their day to day political work. The delegates also attended a session on Moderation Skills by a local expert; this session was focused on preparing the moderators for the conference.
Former Minister for Equality, Mr. Manu Sareen speaking at Conference Nepal 2016
Similarly, the visiting delegates were invited to the Steering Committee meeting of JOMPOPS. That occasion was used to update each other on the political situation as well as to explain DIPD’s supported activities in all the three countries. The intention behind these sharing was to inspire and encourage each other.
On the eve of the conference, a dinner was organized by JOMPOPS attended by the high-level political leaders and other prominent national and international guests. It was also the opportunity for the visiting delegates to meet with the members of the Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of Nepal’s Parliament – the host of the two-day regional conference.
On the final day of their visit, again all the delegates along with JOMPOPS members came together in a local restaurant to reflect on their visit, to share their inspirations and their insights.
Parliament Tour
The Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of Nepal’s Legislature-Parliament invited the visiting delegates from Bhutan, Denmark and Myanmar for a tour in the Parliament and hosted a small interaction event.
The Committee took the delegates to the old Parliament building in Singha durbar, Kathmandu. The staff members explained that the Parliament was shifted to a new premise in Baneshwor because of the space constraints. After the Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, the number of parliamentarians increased from 205 members in the lower house to around 601 members. Since the old Parliament could not accommodate the additional members, the Parliament was shifted to a new building.
In a brief interaction event presided by the two Secretaries of the Parliament Secretariat, the participants got to know about the history and background of Nepal’s Parliament. The Secretaries explained that the first Parliament of Nepal was elected in late 1950s so Nepal’s Parliament now has a long history of nearly 50 years.
JOMPOPS Steering Group member, guests including Former Member of Danish Parliament, Ms. Lone Loklindt
A Progress
Coming together of the three countries in Myanmar for the first regional women’s conference in March 2016 was a beginning of the regional collaboration. It was the first opportunity for the three countries to be introduced and to get to know each other.
The second regional conference gave further opportunities to understand each other and deepen the regional connections. All the three countries have now signed the Kathmandu Declaration together through which they commit to work towards promoting gender equality. Therefore, the Kathmandu visit should be considered as a progress in the regional collaboration.
Regional Conference on Women in Politics & Social Justice, Nepal 2016
The success of this regional collaboration will be tested in the third regional conference in Thimpu, Bhutan. This success would depend on if the three countries are ready to work together on implementing their commitments to practice. As aptly said by Henry Ford:
Coming together is a beginning;
Keeping together is progress;
Working together is success.
Tags: Bhutan, Bhutan network for empowering women, myanmar, Myanmar Multiparty Democracy Programme, Nepal, women, women in politics, Women's Rights
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