active· Governance· Health

F.a: Partnering for promoting social and economic rights of ex bonded laborer

1. Project: 12262 Partnering for promoting social and economic rights of ex bonded laborer 2. Project area and Country: Kailali and Kanchanpur Districts, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal 3. Project justification: Sudurpaschim province is hot spots of modern bonded labourers under the so-called Haliya, Kamaiya and Kamlari systems. The system promotes extreme gender-based violence consisting of several social taboos and other harmful practices. Kamaiyas and Kamlaris are two major groups of ex-bonded labourers living in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. They were enslaved within a system of bonded labour and were forced by landlords to execute various hard labour in agriculture with a nominal amount. Exorbitant debts were charged, and whole families were forced to be slave. After several hard struggles and advocacy efforts by civil society and human rights activists, the Government of Nepal abolished the system on July 17, 2000, for Kamaiya and 2013 for Kamlari. Although most Kamaiya families were freed, the system has persisted. But a decade after being liberated, the freed Kamaiyas are forced to live a very difficult life due to lack of its effective implementation of proper rehabilitation and relief package. The project is primarily designed to promote economic and social empowerment of ex-bonded labourers. 4. The main objective and the expected results: The main objective is to contribute to poverty reduction and equity in Sudurpaschim province through socio-economic empowerment of ex-bonded labourers. Socio-economic condition of the ex-bonded labourers is improved through income diversification, education and advocacy. As a result, vulnerable households are engaged in income generating activities and have access to the market, cooperatives are strengthened and are able to advocate for social transformation, children of ex-bonded labourer attain quality education and vulnerable groups are more resilient and are able to advocate for their rights and access to services. 5. Right-holders/beneficiaries: 3,230 individuals ( 2735 are ex-bonded labours, 24 PWD, 301 Dalit, 170 others) Duty bearers: Municipalities and Rural Municipalities, Agriculture Knowledge Centre and Veterinary Hospital. 6. Implementing partner: Freed Kamaiya Women Development Forum (FKWDF) 7. Budget 2022: EUR 82,264