Introduction

     Kapilvastu’s headquarter Taulihawa-based Madhesh Human Rights Home (MAHURI HOME) was officially founded in 2008 to defend, safeguard, monitor, protect and promote human rights, peace and social harmony in and around Kapilvastu district. This organization is an outcome of collective and collaborative initiation of a dynamic team comprising expertise in the areas of human rights, media, Dalit and women empowerment, peace education and peace building. The organization, based in Kapilvastu district, is highly committed to the empowerment of the underprivileged, socially excluded and oppressed, indigenous and minority population at the grass roots level.
MAHURI HOME, Kapilvastu has been working to enhance representation and participation of local communities, women, dalit and disadvantage sections in decision making processes. One of its core areas of work is democratization and governance of public institution. As part of a larger programme and strategy of MAHURI HOME “Equitable Representation and leadership for Prosperous Society ” MAHURI HOME has initiated various initiatives for protection and promotion of human rights through advocating agenda of women, Dalit and disadvantage section from its’ establishment basically southern area of Nepal.

In 2007 a network to monitor and protect human rights of journalists and development activists was founded in the event of violence groups that broke out with the Madhesi movement. The network was successful in releasing captives by different armed. Later, in the aftermath of Kapilvastu communal riot, a need was felt to develop the monitoring network into a human rights organization. Thus, Mahuri Home emerged as an organization to defend human rights in and around Kapilvastu district. The organization has initiated advocacy for human rights, humanitarian law and respect of the law and justice. The organization is strongly committed to do advocacy on fundamental rights and implementing UN Human Rights Declaration-1948 which has been ratified by the Nepal government.

MAHURI HOME is working with its’ different wings to advancement of agenda related to women, Dalit and Marginalized communities. It has better experience during the implementation of social accountability and Access to Justice projects in three project districts approximately in Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi with local government in the absence of elected representatives. Similarly, it MAHURI HOME was implemented a right to information (RTI) project with an aim of strengthening the accountability and budgeting system of local authorities through peoples’ access in public information to maintain accountability and transparency, inclusion and representation of community group and civil society in planning and monitoring process.

MAHURI HOME raised and advocates the different issues of human rights violation, Gender base violence issues in 8 districts of Province 5, though, Accountability Watch Committee Network at Province Level. Concerned agencies found to have been more responsive to the cases of human rights violation women and girls violence’s put forward by AWC. It is however challenging in raising the issues due to politicisation of political leader, series of the pressure building activities especially dialogues and advocacy.
Mahuri Home experienced and felt the difficult lives of poor marginalised, minorities, dalit communities while working in different project in the field and advocacy for their access to local government plan, budget and implementation.

Through these actions Mahuri Home is able to established networking, coordination and collaboration with local and Provincial government and advocacy after findings the gaps between the local communities will be empowered to better influence local decision-making processes, CBOs will be equipped with capacity to support local communities facilitate engagement, frontline local government officials will have better skills for planning and be able to facilitate accountable budgeting process.