Introduction of NVRF:
Nepal Voters' Right Forum (NVRF) is a non profitable, non-partisan, non-governmental, unique and inclusive network having representation of traditionally marginalized and excluded peoples' organizations including, Dalit, women, people with disabilities, youth, religious minorities, indigenous nationalities, madeshi, LGBTI etc. and human rights, governance and media. working for ensuring rights of the voters of those communities through election education, governance, democratic accountability, participatory electoral process, political finance, capacity development, awareness raising, research and publications, fostering dialogues and interactions aiming to strengthening and institutionalizing democracy, democratic culture and value, democratic accountability by promoting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and election process. The forum advocates for the right of voters to participate in periodic elections for electing their representatives without any fear and undue influences. It also campaigns for the elected representatives to be responsible and accountable towards the voters who casted their votes for electing them. It also promotes unity and harmony among diversity respecting equality, non-discrimination, human rights, social justice, dignity and peoples' sovereignty. NVRF has 25 members central executive board having 58 district branches all over Nepal. It has registered as a network at District Administration Office, (DAO) Kathmandu under the NGO registration Act on February 22, 2017 though the network was functioning since 2015 as a loose network. It adopts Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) to in its all interventions. Collective efforts for sustainable and realizable change are the strategic approach of the NVRF.
Vision:
Free, fair, inclusive and credible elections for strengthen and institutionalize participatory, proportionate, and inclusive democracy.
Mission:
Enhance electoral integrity and voters' performance by protecting and promoting voters’ rights, capacitating and mobilizing them, representing their needs and interests and intact them with their representatives.
Goal:
Protect and promote voters’ rights to support for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections through election educations, dialogues, awareness campaigns, capacity building, research, advocacy and lobby.
Objectives:
To create enabling election environment from local to national level and increase engagement of voters in all election processes.
To develop a critical mass of informed, aware and educated voters on voters’ rights and responsibilities and contribute for a free, fair and fearless elections and election environment.
To develop and publicize evidence-based knowledge and information for voter education and policy advocacy.
To observe and ascertain the fairness and impartiality of the election, and the level of participation and access of voters and contribute to improve the electoral processes.
To enhance capacity of members, member organizations, stakeholders, and strengthen institutional capability of NVRF in order to increase its contribution in strengthening and institutionalizing democracy.
Objectives of NVRF:
Support for conducting periodic elections as a free, fair, inclusive and credible manner;
Fostering discussions, dialogues/interactions on democracy, human rights, elections, inclusion, participation, accountability and governance.
Conducting election educations activities, awareness raisings, campaigns, political finance, capacity development, research, publications and dissemination.
Keep votes' informed and aware on their rights, role and responsibilities;
Create a civic space for constructive dialogue and engagement of the voters with elected representatives for promoting and strengthening democracy and democratic accountability.
Constructively engage with voters' to for promoting and ensuring their rights are met specially those who are most marginalized and excluded in the society.
Core Areas of intervention
Dialogue/lnteraction Programs on election and voter related issues;
Dissemination of information;
Research/documentation/publication;
Lobbying/data-base advocacy;
Voter representation (with an emphasis on marginalized population);
Linking voters to elected representatives and Election Management Bodies.
Pillar I: Voters’ responsive policies and implementation
Pillar II: Information, education, awareness, dialogues, advocacy and lobby
Pillar III: Review, research, documentation, publication and documentations
Pillar IV: Election monitoring and observation
Pillar V: Institutional strengthening and capacity building
Guiding Principles:
Voters’ issues and rights at the center of work
The NVRF and its members are committed to protect and promote rights of voters of all religion, gender, caste, class, region, and age. All the efforts of NVRF, in general, will focus on voters’ issues and the promotion of their rights, specifically the protection of the rights of women, persons with disabilities, minorities and marginalized groups.
Democratic and inclusive:
The NVRF and all its members will be guided by democratic values and inclusivity in its functioning and in implementing its programs and activities.
Transparence and accountability:
The entire work of the forum will be transparent to all its member organizations, and to the voters. The NVRF will take full accountability of its actions and the outcome of those actions.
Voters’ issues and rights at the center of work:
The NVRF and its members are committed to protect and promote rights of voters of all religion, gender, caste, class, region, and age. All the efforts of NVRF, in general, will focus on voters’ issues and the promotion of their rights, specifically the protection of the rights of women, persons with disabilities, minorities and marginalized groups.
Democratic and inclusive:
The NVRF and all its members will be guided by democratic values and inclusivity in its functioning and in implementing its programs and activities.
Transparence and accountability:
The entire work of the forum will be transparent to all its member organizations, and to the voters. The NVRF will take full accountability of its actions and the outcome of those actions.
Fairness and impartiality:
The NVRF and its members will work according to what is morally, ethically, and legally right and fair. It will demonstrate impartial behavior to all its members, stakeholders, voters and candidates. Full impartiality will be maintained to all political parties keeping personal political and ideological inclination.
Professional competence, volunteerism, commitment and credibility:
All members will demonstrate their voluntary commitment towards the vision, mission, and goals and in all decisions of NVRF. The credibility will be demonstrated through its competent and trustful actions. The forum will maintain professional integrity and competency with full commitment and compliance to the fundamental principles and values of democratic elections.
Courtesy, the principle of equality and respectful behavior:
All members will demonstrate courteous, equal and respectful behavior among each other and with stakeholders, voters and leaders. Each member will demonstrate high morality behaving with cordiality and using respectful language in day-to-day action.
Respecting diversity:
Diversity of members, voters, stakeholders and leaders in terms of ideology, political differences, gender, class, region, physical disabilities and all sort of marginalization will be recognized and respected. Special priority will be given to protect human rights and voting rights of underprivileged and marginalized people and communities.
Mutual cooperation and coordination:
NVRF will extend mutual cooperation and coordination with individuals and organizations working in the field of voting rights, election, human rights, democracy and governance.
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