With support of NCCN the participants from Nepal to IWALT (Indigenous women's   alternative leadership for Transformation) programme held in Shillong organized one day workshop on "Indigenous women's rights in New Nepal" in Kathmadnu on 25 June 2007. The representatives from different indigenous groups, Dalits and tribal groups from different parts of Nepal participated in the workshop. The total number of participants was 35 and many of them were Indigenous and Dalit women involved in indigenous women's movement in Nepal. 

Mrs. Draupadi Rokaya , the General Secretary of YWCA Nepal addressing the workshop

The programme was organized with following objectives;

1. To share the experience of IWALT programme held in Shillong and discuss about indigenous women's alternative leadership for social transformation in Nepal.
2.  To provide an opportunity for the indigenous/ Dalit women to come together and discuss about the problems that they as well as other women are facing.
3. To develop awareness among indigeno

   Ms. Sapana Tamang, Sharing her experience of IWALT programme

   us women about constitution assembly and their participation in new constitution making process.
4. To empower indigenous women to develop their alternative leadership

Mrs. Draupadi Rokaya, the general secretary of YWCA Nepal, Mr. Kedar Khadka, Lawyer and Ps. Simon Gurung worked as resource person. The topic taken by Mrs. Draupadi Rokaya was indigenous women's rights in New Nepal. She spoke about the indigenous women's situation in Nepal and need to develop their leadership in every sector of our society to break our social trend of marginalizing indigenous/ Dalit women. She shared how women are discriminated in religious, political, educational, health, cultural and economical sectors in Nepal. Mr. Kedar Khadka, lawyer by profession spoke on the Participation of indigenous women in constitution assembly. He shared in brief about legal provision in the present constitution regarding women's rights and how it is discriminatory. He also shared about active participation of indigenous women in the forthcoming election of constitution assembly, which will be held on 22 November 07, to ensure their rights in new constitution breaking down all discriminatory laws.

Participants took active participation in the discussions and shared their bitter experience of discrimination in family, society and even within the Church.

Ps. Simon Gurung has taken comprehensive Bible study reflecting on the role being played by women in family and society to make it lively and harmonious.