Youth feel used and forgotten: study

Kathmandu, June 27: Youth affected by the armed conflict and the Madhes movements have an overwhelming feeling of having been used and then forgotten, and their sacrifice failed to yield the results they were hoping, concludes a recent study.

“They were powerless then and they are powerless now. They see many issues that still need to be resolved in their society and the country today, but for many reasons, they struggle to engage meaningfully in peaceful action and the social transformation of their communities,” concludes a case study ‘Youth experiences of conflict, violence and peace building in Nepal’ conducted by Search for Common Ground (SFCG).

According to the study, while the youth perceive some benefits for having taken part in movements for social change that address – at least in part – both the structural and political violence, they also feel highly frustrated due to lack of social acceptance and their gradually deteriorating living conditions.

“They feel stigmatised and disadvantaged, and they lack opportunities to meaningfully be engaged in society today,” it further says.

The study has found that the youth affected by the civil war and Madhes movements also felt that the process of reconciliation in Nepal was stalled and incomplete. They have lost faith in this process and its possible outcomes.

It also concludes that there seems to be a growing realisation among the participants of the study that they were exploited and manipulated by the political parties and other forces to engage in violent activities.

“Many have had a serious reflection on these matters, realising the loss they had to bear and what other avenues they can explore,” says the study.

However, the youth involved in the initiatives promoting social cohesion are getting higher social acceptance and recognition.

The study has recommended the local governments to engage the youth in various committees at the local level and have their inputs in development works.

It has asked the central government to devise a national action plan to mainstream the violence-affected youth.

“Promote quality education for all and meaningful employment schemes, address the livelihood needs of the conflict-affected families, increase community and family support programmes, and address drug abuse,” recommends the study.

Likewise, it has suggested addressing the barriers to women’s participation, and offer capacity building to diverse youth in conflict mitigation and resolution.

According to Bhola Prasad Dahal, Nepal Country Director of SFCG, the study focuses on hard to reach youth in seven districts of Nepal – Saptari, Rautahat, Gorkha, Kapilvastu, Ropla, Bardiya and Kailali – that are among the most affected by the conflicts.

A total of 14 focus group discussions, 29 key informant interviews and 12 case story interviews were conducted for the study among 175 youth – 42 per cent female and 58 per cent male.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 June 2018.