Two important meetings

It has been a while between drinks as far as our blog is concerned. We are very  sorry but we have been soooooooo busy!  Now you will have two posts in quick succession because there is so much happening for Samunnat and we hardly know where to begin!  Regular readers know that we have been making beads for the Bead Shows at Tucson.  We hear that people love our beads and we were thrilled when a friend sent us a photo of our beads being displayed.  We are equally excited to say that now, even if you can't get to the Bead Show, you can buy our beads here!!!  On the freshly relaunched Kazuri website, we have our own page here and we are so honoured to be a part of the Many Hands Market Place.  Go shopping creators!As well as beading, the ladies, and especially Kopila, have been busy with other important activities!  Here she writes about two meetings that she attended recently:Late in 2012, the streets of Delhi were filled with protesters.  A young woman had been raped and murdered by 6 men and thrown into the streets.  She and her partner lay traumatised and crying out for help as police argued about whose job it was.  She died later from her injuries in hospital.  People were angry and protested against the government to take action. The main reason of the demonstration was security, equal rights and freedom, and survival for women in India.  When this incident occurred in India, it affected Nepal too.  Many issues are similar.  Unresolved criminal cases of violence against women were published.  Police are biased about women's issues.  They do not always pursue justice for women.  Women of Nepal are very scared and took to the streets to protest to our own Government to take strict action and stop violence and change the police attitude.  There were demonstrations by women all over the country and the government was persuaded to listen to us.  Finally, we had a call from the District Police Office and got to know that they  were very keen to discuss the matter of violence against our women.  We also wanted to pesent our issues!  The main problems we wanted to talk about were the rude behaviour of police officers to women, corruption and collusion between police and the abusers, and consistently not taking initiative in cases of violence against women and not taking action when we came to them.The discussion took place between the police, various women's organisations, political parties, human rights organisations and others.  The outcome was effective.  The Police Department noted every problem and made sure that we understood they took us very seriously.  Later, when we took to them one polygamy and violence case in our village they took us very seriously.  We hope this is the beginning of a change for the better for women.The second meeting was with our Australian Ambassador Susan Grace (Pictured on her visit to Samunnat in 2009)  in Kathmandu which is very far from here.  The event was the farewell of the Ambassador to people who had received funding from the Australian Government during her time.  We received some funding in 2009. The meeting was on 1st February 2013. It has been a long time that I haven't been to Kathmandu and when Wendy didi texted me that message about the invitation, I was very happy and excited.  The Board decided to send me.  I was only with the Ambassador for a short time but it was very memorable.  The tea party was in the garden of the Ambassador's House.  When I enter to the house I was a bit nervous because everyone was carrying their big presentation files but I was with two pieces of paper.  Sanjana (the Ambassador's PA) was very welcoming to me and when she saw me she hugged me which I felt was very special.  Then the Ambassador came and spoke with each one of us and she remembered my name and especially Samunnat and I was so happy.  It was a very precious time and when the Ambassador appreciated the Samunnat work in front of all the invited group I feel very very proud and happy.  Then people started to know about Samunnat. One doctor from a big organisation came to me and said where was I from and I said Samunnat and he said he knew Samunnat and was very interested.  People asked me to brief them about our work.  It was very valuable and encouraging for us.Come back soon as we have even more exciting news!