Seminar calls for end to armed violence
Added At: 2011-03-16 11:57 PM
Last Updated At: 2011-03-17 11:57 PM
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: A seminar focusing on inter-regional cooperation and armed violence prevention policies began today in Kathmandu.
Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Barshaman Pun said that armed conflict had bogged down the prosperity of the country and remained one of the most detrimental problems of the region.
“Armed violence has tremendous socio-economic consequences. Violence substantially affects the annual growth of an average economy for many years,” Pun said in the inaugural session of a three-day regional seminar for South and Southeast Asia.
“Armed violence and development are linked. On the one hand armed violence hinders socio-economic development, on the other lack of development opportunities, social injustice among others are some of the powerful drivers leading to armed conflict,” Pun added.
He pointed out that greater awareness, development strategies and implementation of existing international and regional conventions are some of the measures that can help prevent armed violence.
Expressing the government’s commitment to reduce armed violence, Pun informed that the landmines from the time of conflict are being removed. According to him, 52,600 explosive devices have been collected and 31 out of 43 landmines have been removed and defused from all over the country.
Swiss ambassador to Nepal, Thomas Gas, said that leading a life without the fear of armed violence is the precondition of human rights.
The seminar has been attended by representatives from 17 countries of South and Southeast Asia region, including an official delegation from Nepal, as well as the United Nations, the SAARC, the ASEAN, and civil society organisations.
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