active· Governance· Health

F.a: Strengthening Psychosocial Disability Rights

Persons with psychosocial disability face daily barriers due to inhumane treatment, discrimination and exclusion in society which is further exacerbated by lack of strong disability rights and protection laws in Nepal. There is a need to identify persons with psychosocial disability and support them in their recovery, build a strong network among them as well as empower them about their rights, form a coalition with underrepresented disability groups and encourage them to demand for their rights with the duty bearers at their local and province level. Moreover, there is a need to sensitize families and communities regarding psychosocial disability and support in their social inclusion and improving livelihood. This project aims to respond to these needs and the results of project activities are: MPs from the Federal and Province Parliament take measures to formulate psychosocial disability friendly laws or amend laws which are discriminatory / derogatory towards persons with psychosocial disability; bureaucrats from the federal, province and local level take measures to include psychosocial disability in the plans and programs which are developed; and persons with psychosocial disabilities and coalition of underrepresented groups are engaged in evidence based self-advocacy to mainstream psychosocial disability in Sudurpaschhim Province and Karnali Province. The project beneficiaries are 670 persons with disabilities (including psychosocial disability) and their family members, members of National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN), members of community groups (womens groups, youth groups, agriculture groups, religious groups, consumer groups) and journalists; and 230 government officlas and law-makers in the local, provincial and federal level. The project is implemented by Koshish - National Mental Health Self-Help Organization (https://www.koshishnepal.org/).