Impact of media, I/NGOs and donor community Geja Sharma Wagle

Role of the Parliament on security policy The Parliament is a sovereign institution and members of parliament exercise their sovereign power on behalf of the sovereign people which is enshrined by the constitution The government drafts (the President Office, the Prime Minister Office, the MoD, the MoHA, the NSC, the MoF, the MoFA, the NA, the APF, the NP, the NID etc.) The Parliament revise, endorse, reject and amendment security policy and acts including others The president enacts The security agencies implement the policies and acts The MoD controls the military and the MoHA controls the police The Parliament and elected representatives oversight and scrutinize the activities of the government and security agencies Security agencies are accountable to the government, the government is accountable to the parliament and the parliament is accountable to the people

Impact High ImportantInfluentialRole

Because 1.The government, MPs, the MoD, the MoHA, the NA, the APF, the NP, the NID do not have sufficient knowledge, information, ideas, reference materials, will power and resource with regard to national security policy. 2.They do not have sufficient competent staffs with regard to national security policy. 3.They listen to international/donor community rather than enhancing their institutional knowledge & capacity

How they influence 1. The media : has information, ideas and knowledge so that it plays instrumental role in making public opinion 2. I/NGOs : have sufficient information, ideas, knowledge, resource, network and reference materials 3. Donor community : has budget, ideas, knowledge and reference materials, and high access to policy makers

What they do Cover news, views and analysis and publish articles Carry out research-study and disseminate the findings Organize seminars, workshops, interactions and roundtable meetings to create informed debates that contribute to enhance better understanding of politicians and policy makers Brought information and policy documents into the public domain ensuring access of the people Make available reference materials Publish news letters, research/policy papers, journals, books

Give policy feedback/ expert opinions including alternative ideas to policy makers Provide fund to the government, security agencies, I/NGOs, civil society, research institutions to carry out their activities Contribute to enhancing capacity and ability of government and security agencies, policy makers, politicians, civil society and media by providing needed support Expose human rights abuse, financial irregularity, corruption, excessive use of power and high handedness of the government and security agencies Contribute to make accountable to the people by educating international laws, treaties, conventions and covenants to security agencies Contribute to the government to draft people, gender and rights friendly security policies in consistent with international standard s Play instrumental role in fostering consensus and narrowing down differences of multiple actors

Consequence!? Consequence If positive, its support If negative, its intervention Impact High Role Important/influential

Interrelations International community I/NGOs MediaCivil society Parliament The president Security agencies Government agencies

Active I/NGOs Nepal Institute for Policy Studies National Peace Campaign Nepal Transition to Peace Initiatives Asian Study Centre for Peace & Conflict Transformation Democratic Control of Armed Forces United States Institute of Peace International Alert The Asia Foundation Saferworld

Active donor community India The US The UK China Switzerland Denmark Norway Germany The United Nations France Canada

Debate Questions, clarification and feedback!