KOSHISH represents voices of the right holders/ persons with lived experience of mental health conditions or psychosocial disability. Working in both the top-down and bottom-up approach, we focus on capacity building (duty bearers as well as right holders); collaboration and partnership with the government and like-minded organizations nationally and internationally; networking; Public Interest Litigation (PIL); lobbying; media mobilization and review of laws and policies to highlight the issues of mental health and psychosocial disability. KOSHISH has thus been advocating with the Members of Parliament and National Assembly at the federal level and Members of Province Parliament of Province 1, Bagmati and Gandaki Province; Bureaucrats of various ministries at the Federal and Sub-National Level; Constitutional Bodies (including National Human Rights Commission, National Women Commission, National Inclusion Commission); National Federation of Disabled – Nepal as well as in International arena through: i) representation in 367th and 368th UNCRPD session where report from Nepal was considered and ii) Sharing of UPR shadow report to OHCHR.
KOSHISH has also been advocating for addressing various barriers and challenges faced by persons with mental health conditions or psychosocial disability with respect to their inherent rights and dignity. The actions have been aimed at breaking down the existing legal, attitudinal, social, and cultural barriers with a particular focus on inclusion, empowerment, meaningful participation, and enjoyment of rights of persons with mental health condition/ psychosocial disability on an equal basis with others. We are demanding for the stakeholders to be accountable towards their commitment to adhere to the UNCRPD and other international human rights instruments.
We advocate for
- Amendment or abolishment of discriminatory provisions towards persons with mental health condition/psychosocial disability and adoption and implementation of positive provisions
- Functional mechanism for mental health in all levels of governance.
- Integration of mental health in general health and beyond the health i.e. social protection, education, gender, etc.
- Elimination of existing legal attitudinal, social and cultural barriers towards mental health and psychosocial disability.
Projects under Advocacy & awareness program
Overall objective : The government has increased national budget to the need of mainstreaming mental health into general health
Project Duration : 2016-21
Project location : Kathmandu Valley
Target group : General Public, Persons with Mental Health Issues (Right Holders), Members of Federal and Provincial Parliaments, Bureaucrats, Constitutional Bodies/ Commissions, Civil Society Organizations, Media Personnel
Partner: HimalPartner, Norway
Overall objective : Legal framework of Nepal and its implementation is psychosocial disability friendly and in line with the Constitution of Nepal and UNCRPD
Project Duration : 2018-21
Project location : Kathmandu Valley
Target group : Members of Federal Parliament, Bureaucrats, Constitutional Body Members, Judicial Authorities, Persons with and at risk of psychosocial disability,
Persons with Disability
Duration: 2020-2022 (3 Yrs.)
Project location : Province-1
Partner: Open Society Foundations
Key Achievements
Contributed towards:
- inclusion of psychosocial disability as a form of disability in the Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2017.
- Inclusion of ‘Establish a functional Mental Health Unit at the central MOHP’ as a key milestone in the Non Communicable Disease Multi Sectoral Action Plan 2014-20.
- Establishment of focal section for mental health in Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population
- Inclusion of mental health as part of basic health services in the Public Health Service Act, 2018
- Rehabilitation Guidelines for persons with psychosocial issues
Our reach through sensitization programs:
Representation on National Disability Directive Committee
Mr. Matrika Devkota, Executive Director / founding chairperson of KOSHISH has been appointed as a member of the National Disability Directive Committee, which has been formed under the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens on 5th July 2020 to facilitate policy work related with disability. Mr. Devkota was selected among those who have made significant contributions to promote psychosocial disability at the national level.
Case Story:
Public Interest Litigation as Mental Health Matters For Everyone and Everywhere
