Welcome to The Candle, the Official Blog of Amnesty International Nepal. On behalf of the National Board, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the National Secretariat for initiating this.
Like the physical world, our presence in the virtual space is equally important since we live in the digital era. The importance of virtual presence has been felt, realized and then materialized exponentially after the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Going digital is a compulsive choice we can hardly afford to compromise in the present world. This is about not only being smart but also about being more prompt and effective. And it has other comparative values such as low cost, efficiency, fastness, and most importantly the eco-friendliness. Therefore, I sincerely do hope that this blogzine will prove to be an effective tool for us all in amplifying our voices to protect and promote human rights.
This is the first initiation of its kind that Amnesty International Nepal has taken after the newly elected National Board took office on 3 April. As the Chair of Amnesty Nepal, I would like to reassert here that we will gradually move ahead in accordance with the mandate and the direction given to us at the AGM based on the commitments made by me and the rest of the members of the current Board in particular to prioritize human rights issues and to further strengthen AI Nepal’s institutional reform.
We will start discussions and consultations with all the stakeholders to decide on Amnesty Nepal’s strategic goal and the direction for the next five to eight years, including the future financial viability and sustainability of the organization. We will also initiate discussions to build our relations with the International Secretariat, the International Board, and other sections stronger and more vibrant.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the International Secretariat and the previous National Board, the institutional reforms in Amnesty Nepal’s membership structures (groups, youth networks and individual/supporter members) will now be the principal agenda not just of the Board but of the whole movement of Amnesty in Nepal. For this, we will hold a wider discussion and consultation to obtain opinions, advice, and suggestions from everyone. The core mission for all of us will be to make Amnesty Nepal more democratic, more effective, more efficient, and dynamic so that it can achieve its human rights goals with ease, efficiency, and greater impact.
Also in this context, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt best wishes to you all on the occasion of the New Year 2079. May the year 2079 be the best of years and may it bring prosperity and betterment to all of us, may the Amnesty Movement in Nepal take a new leap; may we achieve new progresses on human rights issues, and may we see that the Nepali society is founded on the rule of law and that it becomes more human rights friendly!
Last but not the least, I extend the best wishes to the Secretariat for the success of The Candle. Let’s make The Candle a forum for both Amnesty Nepal and the human rights community to exchange their voices, and actions for the protection and promotion of human rights.
Thank you!
Bipin Budhathoki
Chairperson, National Board, Amnesty International Nepal