Nepal Adoption

First time visitors can just go top down and explore -- but for those of you who are coming back to see what's new...most new items are added to the "important link lists" so that's where to start if you're looking for the newest items. The table of contents is always updated too, so you can find the new things that way as well. Most of the newest content that doesn't go on the link lists will be somewhere up top so it isn't too hard to find, but every once in a while its a good idea to browse the whole page for updates, changes and new items. Things are changing and moving so fast its hard to keep track of all of the information that is streaming in. Please leave a comment or suggestion if there is something that you know about that should be here, but isn't!!!

If you have anything that should be added to Rumors and Whispers, please let me know right away!!

NEPAL
May 22, 2009

The Department of State warns American citizens The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in country. The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges American citizens to obtain updated security information before they travel and to be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaces the Travel Warning for Nepal dated November 21, 2008 and updates safety and security information.

Political violence remains a problem in Nepal. The Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Youth groups from the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), have also formed and clashes continue among these political rivals. Violent actions by multiple armed splinter groups in the Terai region along the southern border with India remain a significant concern.

Protests, demonstrations and disruptions frequently occur. The May 4, 2009 resignation of the Prime Minister and the resulting caretaker government has created an environment of increased political instability and the potential for demonstrations to be called without advance notice. During demonstrations, protestors have used violence, including damaging vehicles, throwing rocks, and burning tires to block traffic. Given the nature, intensity, and unpredictability of disturbances, American citizens are urged to exercise special caution during times when demonstrations are announced, avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming, avoid road travel, and maintain a low profile. Curfews can be announced with little or no advance notice. American citizens are urged to consult media sources and to register with the Embassy (see instructions below) for current security information.

Crime in the Kathmandu Valley, including violent crime and harassment of women, continues to rise. Police resources to combat such crime are limited. Police have reported a number of robberies by armed gangs, sometimes resulting in injury to the victims. Petty theft and muggings occur in popular tourist areas such as Pokhara and the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Visitors to Nepal should practice good personal security when moving about, especially at night, and avoid walking alone after dark, carrying large sums of cash, or wearing expensive jewelry. In several reported incidents tourists have had their belongings stolen from their rooms while they were asleep. There has been an increase in the number of fraudulent schemes perpetrated against tourists. These schemes involve requesting the traveler's assistance in establishing shipping routes, or business contacts with the United States or other countries, involving jewelry, antiquities, or carpets, promising huge returns. Solo trekkers have been robbed by small groups of young men, even on some popular trails. There have been reports of groups, primarily the Maoist Young Communist League, stopping foreign tourists along some popular trekking routes to extort money as donations to a political party, or toll for passage. Political parties or community groups frequently call strikes, or bandhs, and have threatened physical violence to Nepalis and non-Nepalis alike for violating these strikes.

Travel via road in areas outside of the Kathmandu Valley is hazardous due to erratic drivers and frequent road accidents. Public transportation, such as microbuses and tuk tuks, should be avoided because they are often overfilled, driven unsafely, and mechanically unsound. American citizens should use taxis with meters or negotiate a price with the taxi driver before starting a trip.

Most U.S. official travel outside the Kathmandu Valley, including by air, requires specific clearance by the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Officer. As a result, The U.S. Embassy's ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens may be limited. Active duty U.S. military and Department of Defense contractors must obtain U.S. Embassy clearance in advance for official and personal travel to Nepal.

The U.S. Government's designation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" organization under Executive Order 13224 and its inclusion on the "Terrorist Exclusion List" pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act remain in effect. These two designations make Maoists excludable from entry into the United States without a waiver and bar U.S. citizens from transactions such as contribution of funds, goods, or services to, or for the benefit of, the Maoists.

For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov. Americans living or traveling in Nepal are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website (https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp). The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is located at Maharajgunj. The telephone number is 977-1-4007200 , 4007201. The number for after-hours emergencies is 977-1-4007266 , 4007269. The fax number is 977-1-4007281 . The Consulate's e-mail address is consktm@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://nepal.usembassy.gov. U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's latest Country Specific Information for Nepal and the Worldwide Caution, available at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 . These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

'UML leadership for unity govt has already been agreed upon'

Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Situala has claimed that an understanding has already been reached among parties to form a unity government under the leadership of CPN (UML).
Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Situala speaking at the Reporters Club Thursday, May 07 09. nepalnews.com/ANA
Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Situala speaking at the Reporters...

Situala, a close aide of NC president Girija Prasad Koirala, said it's certain that the next government would be led by UML and what is being awaited now is a formal decision of the UML with the nomination of its leader, who will become the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the Reporters Club, Sitaula claimed that "other parties" are also convinced that UML should lead the "government of national consensus".

He further said that the Maoists should be part of the new coalition, but they cannot take the leadership.

Situala had met UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal at the latter's residence on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of the new alliance to form the government.

On the other hand, Madhesi parties, whose participation or support is a must for the new ruling coalition to take shape, are yet to make their positions clear. nepalnews.com mk May 07 09

Political Crisis in Nepal Could Jeopardize Peace Process
By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
06 May 2009

In Nepal, political parties are holding talks to form a national government after Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda, quit following differences with the President over his sacking of the army chief. Concerns are running high that the political crisis could jeopardize a peace deal which ended a decade-long civil war, and brought the Maoists into the political mainstream.

When Maoist leader Prachanda stepped down as Prime Minister, he promised in an address to the nation that he remains committed to democracy and peace.

But in Nepal, there is deep uncertainty over what the future holds.

Prachanda, a former guerrilla, quit this week after President Ram Baran Yadav overturned an order by Prachanda to sack the army chief. The Maoists accused the head of the army of disobeying the government's orders, and fired him despite strong objections by other parties in the Maoist-led coalition.

Maoist supporters participate in a street march in Katmandu, Nepal, 06 May 2009
Maoist supporters participate in a street march in Katmandu, Nepal, 06 May 2009
The Maoists have been at loggerheads with the army chief because he has refused to integrate 19,000 former guerrillas, who are currently living in United Nations-supervised camps, into the army as stipulated under a 2006 peace deal. Army chief Rookmangud Katawal says he cannot hire "politically indoctrinated" cadres.

A Political analyst in Kathmandu, Yubaraj Ghimire, says the Maoists want to promote their former fighters, and get a grip on the army.

"Sacking army chief Katawal was just not a question of civilian supremacy as the Maoists are saying," said Ghimire. "It was a very political move to demoralize the Nepal army, and to boost the image of the private army, which is a Maoist affiliated outfit".

The Maoists have refused to back down, and have vowed a campaign of civil disobedience to press for the army chief's removal. Hundreds of Maoist supporters are holding daily street protests in the capital Kathmandu since the crisis erupted. Stone-throwing protesters have clashed with police.

Slogan-chanting Maoist lawmakers have shut down parliament and said they will disrupt proceedings making it impossible for a new prime minister to be voted in.

Editor of the Nepali Times, Kunda Dixit, says the strategy being adopted by the Maoists is not surprising for a party whose supporters have often used disruptive tactics to get their way.

"They are isolated, but the thing is they have not yet given up the politics of threats and intimidation, and they do this by saying if you don't agree with us, we will bring out 5,000 people on the streets and then we will get what we want," said Dixit. "It is an extra constitutional process they are using."

All eyes are now on major political parties, who have been in talks to form a new government. With parliament highly fractured, these parties are trying to woo the former rebels, and say the best course would be to form a national consensus government. The Maoists, who are the largest party, have not committed as to whether they will return to the government, or prefer to sit in the opposition.

Political analyst Yubaraj Ghimire, says any new government formed without the backing of the Maoists is unlikely to survive for long.

"Maoist strategy would be to rule if they can, and not let anyone rule if they can't form the government. As simple as that," said Ghimire. "This will make the peace process and the move to institutionalize democracy a casualty."

The Maoists joined the political mainstream after laying down arms under the 2006 peace deal which led to the end of the monarchy. The Maoists went on to win 40 per cent of the seats in elections last year for a constituent assembly. The constituent assembly, which also functions as an interim parliament, is drafting a new constitution for the country.

But with the country staring at political instability, the task of drawing up a new constitution is likely to take a back seat, and the future of the peace agreement which ended the country's civil war is under a cloud.

However optimists are hoping that the Maoists, who have much at stake to prove their democratic credentials, will not push matters to the brink, and former Prime Minister Prachanda will live up to his word of abiding by the rules of multi-party democracy.

21 parties for consensual govt

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, May 5 - In the wake of a new political standstill triggered by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's resignation, 21 political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) have decided to form a new national government based on consensus.
An all-party meeting called by the CPN-UML - skipped by Unified CPN (Maoist) and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) - on Tuesday took such decision.

Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel informed, "The meeting concluded that all the parties will try to form consensual government within the time as asked by the President."

The NC is ready to support other parties' government whether that is UML's leadership, he said.

UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said, "The Maoist party in its capacity as the largest party in the CA has already led the government. Now a path has been paved for a chance for another party to do so. But this does not mean that the Maoists will not be allowed to lead from now."

"We will try to persuade all the parties to participate in this process till the end," he added.

Today itself, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav requested all the political parties represented in the CA to form a new government by Saturday.
Posted on: 2009-05-05 05:05:00 (Server Time)

Nepal parties meet to address political crisis

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA - 7 hours ago

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Nepal's political parties held crisis talks Tuesday on forming a new coalition government after the prime minister resigned in a power struggle with the president over enlisting former Maoist rebels into the military.

Hundreds of police were deployed around President Ram Baran Yadav's office and detained about 40 protesters who rallied there in violation of a ban, police official Govind Pathak said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal - the former leader of Nepal's Maoist rebels - resigned Monday in a dispute with Yadav over firing the country's military chief. Dahal wanted him sacked because of his refusal to enlist former Maoist rebels into the military, but Yadav overruled the decision.

Nepal's Maoists fought a bloody 10-year war against the government before joining the political mainstream in 2006, and then winning the most votes during parliamentary elections last year that helped bring an end to the Himalayan country's centuries-old monarchy.

However, many of the movements fighters remained confined to U.N.-monitored barracks under a peace accord.

Dahal's Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is the largest party in parliament but it does not have a clear majority, and his resignation pulled his party out of the ruling coalition and collapsed the government.

Political parties held crisis talks Tuesday in Katmandu to try set up a new coalition.

Nepali Congress, the second largest party after the Maoists, pledged their support to Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), the third biggest party, said Ram Sharan Mahat of the Nepali Congress.

These parties would still need the support of other parties to form the new government.

Yadav, who is from the Nepali Congress party, was set to formally ask party leaders to come forward and stake their claim to a new government later Tuesday, his adviser Lalit Bahadur Basnet said.

In his resignation speech, Dahal accused Yadav of "a fatal attack on the infant democracy."

"The unconstitutional and undemocratic move by the president has pushed the country toward a serious political crisis," Dahal said. "The president has no power to act alone without prior approval of the Cabinet on such matters."

He said he stepped down "to create a conducive environment and save the peace process."

The Maoists have vowed to launch demonstrations and shut down the parliament in protest of the president's actions.

Dahal had wanted former Maoist guerrillas freed from U.N.-monitored barracks and integrated into the military, as prescribed under a U.N.-brokered peace agreement. But army chief Rookmangud Katawal resisted those efforts and sparred repeatedly with the government.

Dahal, who took office in August, fired Katawal on Sunday, prompting a key political party to withdraw from the Maoist-led ruling coalition. Hours later, Yadav reversed the decision - provoking Dahal's resignation.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Maoists lose majority after Nepal army chief sacked

* Maseeh Rahman in Delhi
* guardian.co.uk, Sunday 3 May 2009 19.28 BST

Nepal was plunged into political turmoil today after the second-largest party in the Maoist-led government pulled out of the ruling coalition in protest over the sacking of the country's army chief.

Gen Rookmangud Katawal, 61, was dismissed following a long confrontation with the prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and his Communist party of Nepal-Maoist, a former guerrilla group that was elected to power at the head of a five-party coalition last year. Despite opposition from his four coalition partners, the prime minister sacked his army chief.

The Maoists, who abolished the monarchy and turned the nation into a republic, now face the biggest political challenge of their short reign. Demonstrations in support and against the army chief's sacking erupted in Kathmandu shortly after the government announced its decision, and top army commanders met at an emergency meeting.

"It's certain that Gen Katawal will challenge his dismissal in the supreme court by arguing that the prime minister has no authority to sack the army chief, since the president is the commander-in-chief," said Prakash Rimal of the Kathmandu Post.

Katawal is a capable yet controversial officer with strong support within the army, unlike his number two who has been named as the new army chief by the government. Even though he was adopted by the royal family and grew up in the palace, he did not oppose the move to abolish the monarchy. He became army chief despite doubts about his alleged role in a particularly brutal phase of the 10-year civil war between the Nepal army and the Maoist People's Liberation Army.

But the main cause of his tussle with Dahal is his resistance to inducting into the army more than 19,000 former Maoist guerillas who are housed in camps run by the United Nations. As a result, the prime minister faced a virtual rebellion from militant sections in his party led by the defence minister. If he did not act against his army chief he risked losing control of his party.

There was never any doubt though that the Maoist coalition partners as well as the opposition Nepali Congress would not tolerate the army chief's dismissal.

After Dahal's government lost its majority yesterday, the Maoists were said to be talking to smaller parties in search of new allies in the national assembly, while opposition groups were exploring the possibility of an alternative government. Recent rumours of an impending army coup also gained momentum.

President accepts PM's resignation

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has accepted the resignation tendered by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Monday evening.

Dahal had submitted his resignation to the President at the latter's office, Shitwal Niwa, soon after announcing his resignation through an address to the nation.

President Yadav has also asked the incumbent Council of Ministers to carry out its duty till a new Council of Ministers is formed. nepalnews.com May 04 09

05/07/09 -- A Norwegian agency has confirmed the matching of 25 files. No whispers yet about which agencies or countries the matched files came from.

05/07/09 -- The matching committee has begun with the next batch of files.

05/07/09 -- Referrals are being sent by ordinary snail mail, and that is why we haven't heard anything about any actual referrals being received.

05/06/09 -- The Ministry informed the US Embassy that the adoption process would continue, but at a slower pace because of the emergence of a new political climate following the resignation from the Prime Minister. The Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Mr. Chaudhary, would still be looking after his portfolio until a new government is formed.

05/06/09 -- An agency in Italy confirmed that yesterday people were working at the Ministry. The agency thinks that the Ministry will continue working as before.

05/05/09 -- From a very reputable agency: The hope is that Dahal's resignation will not directly impact adoptions. However, based on our experience in working with third world governments, a small hiccup in the government can create delays for almost anything. It's hard to know for sure if adoptions will be affected and, if they are, for how long or how closely. To our knowledge, the Family Matching Committee continues to slowly match files.

05/05/09 -- The reports are saying that new ministers will be appointed, but there will definitely be a delay in all levels of work including international adoption.

05/01/09 --An agency executive director and President just came back from Nepal. It seems that the matching process will be different this time around. The matching process will be computerized.

Now each prospective family will be approved by the Ministry and then, they will be matched with the child. The matching will be done automatically through the computer by the committee in Nepal. According to the Government the delay in current procedure caused by adding children to the database. As soon as the database is ready and personnel is trained the adoption process starts moving. It is possible the quota of ten families per agency is temporary. Families who consider adopting special needs and older children can adopt outside of the quota.

The first number each case receives is the registration number. The second is the serial number which will show where you are at in terms of waiting to be matched with a child.

With Minister Chaudhary in place, several agencies feel that it is in families' best interest to contact your state representatives to reach out to Minister Chaudhary and request his support for all existing adoption cases and for all of the transition cases. Specifically, Senator John Kerry from Massachusetts is taking the lead, in coordination with Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana, on a joint letter from Senators and Congressmen to Minister Chaudhary. The purpose of this letter is to make Minister Chaudhary aware that there is a high level of U.S. support in seeing that transition cases are brought to a positive resolution and that adoptions continue to move forward.

Please feel free to encourage Senator Kerry and Senator Landrieu to continue their advocacy for Nepalese adoptions by emailing Senator Kerry at: http://kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm and Senator Landrieu at: http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm.

We also encourage you to reach out to your local state representatives to encourage them to get involved in Senator Kerry and Senator Landrieu's initiative. You can locate the contact information for your state's representatives at the following website: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml.

Dear friends,

We will again being offering intensive instruction in Nepali at Cornell this summer. Please circulate this message widely and post the attached announcement wherever you can.

Instruction is by two wonderful, experienced, and energetic teachers--Banu Oja and Shambhu Oja--but you don't have to take my word on it; check out the "Shambhu and Banu Fan Club" on Facebook! Together and individually, they teach both spoken and written Nepali at all levels. Formal language work includes conversation, songs, proverbs, movies, storytelling, and a whole host of interactive approaches to learning. It is backed up by textbooks and a state-of-the art language lab with both audio and video supplemental materials, all developed at Cornell and the Cornell-Nepal Study Program specifically for this program. Students meet for 6 hours per day, sometimes all together, sometimes in individual tutorial (see attached schedule from last summer).

In addition to work in the classroom, the program includes a series of "content area lectures": these are weekly lecture-discussions with other Himalaya-involved faculty, which use selected vocabulary and idiomatic clusters in Nepali to explore important cultural topics such as caste, ethnicity, religion, politics, environment or kinship. Participants also gather for several program-sponsored social events, dinners & picnics. And, of course, there is Ithaca, with all its summer pleasures--swimming in lakes and gorges, farmers' market, parks, museums and open-air cafes.

This year, we are offering two ways to participate:

1. The first is as a fully enrolled student for the entire six weeks: Participants receive 6 credits; $970/credit. Partial Program scholarships are available for all participants; full Foreign Language Area Studies fellowships are available for eligible students (US citizens or Permanent Residents, enrolled or accepted into a degree-bearing graduate program).
2. The second is new this year and has been specifically designed for those of you who cannot afford the time or expense of all six weeks: this is for beginning level students only; these students must also begin the class on the first day, but they can select how many weeks they are able to participate. Participants receive 1 credit per week; $970/credit. Thus, ff a student were only going to stay for 3 weeks, they would take the course for 3 credits, and would pay only for 3 credits. We cannot offer FLAS or Program financial aid for this option at this time.

If you are, or know anyone who is interested, please contact Kim Scott (kp16@cornell.edu).
Enrollment forms can be found at: www.lrc.cornell.edu/asian/programs/summer/nepali.

Family Matching Committee

There are 2 Family Matching Committees (FMC) in Nepal. One is called Centeral Child Welfare Board (CCWB) and the other is called Bal Mandir.

CCWB matching committee receives list of children from 37 different orphanages while Bal Mandir has its own list of children, meaning one list.

Bal Mandir is also known as the Nepal Children Organization. It is one of the oldest orphange in Nepal.

Bal Mandir has been placing children for the last 30 years and the 37 orphanages has been placing for the last 10 years.

These 2 committees must send their final list of children to the Ministry for registration. This is the new adoption law. The Ministry will review the list of children and forward family's dossier to either of the FMC for the matching process.

Agencies CANNOT submit files directly to FMC. ALL dossiers must be submitted to the Ministry and it will be the Ministry who will review and forward files to the FMC.

This means that agencies cannot control which orphanage your child will come from. Your child can come from CCWB or Bal Mandir.

Rumor Control
Throughout this adoption journey, you will hear or read stories that may not be accurate. Some agencies have different policies or regulations so your process may not be the same as others. You also have to keep in mind that families from Canada, Italy, and Spain are adopting from Nepal as well. So these families will be on the listserv sharing their journey and they may work differently than the agencies here in the states.

Below are some clarifications.

Q: We have heard that some agencies registration numbers are 4 digits, but why is ours only 2 digits?

A: Any document submitted to the Ministry are given a registration number which is usually 4 digits. After the initial registration, all adoption documents (dossiers) are forwarded to the legal section of the Ministry. At this point, your dossiers are registered again and are given the number in line, which is 2 digits so far. This is called the "number in queue." So the initial registration number is not needed.

Q: Can my child come from Bal Mandir?

A: Yes, as it is the FMC who will be referring.

Q: Is it true that Nepal may close because their new process is unstable?

A: NO. They are trying to organize their new process and procedures so we are experiencing delays, but they are NOT planning to close adoption.

Q: We read somewhere that the ministry has stopped registering the children. Is this true?

A: No, this is NOT true. Ministry has begun their registration process, but keep in mind that they have just implented the new law so everything is new to them. But I can assure you that they are processing.

Q: We read that agencies can submit dossiers to the orphanages rather than going through the Ministry.

A: This is not true. All dossiers must be submitted and registered at the Ministry. It will be the Ministry who will forward dossiers to the FMC who will then complete the matching process. No agencies can submit dossiers to the orphanage on their own. This is against the law.

Q: We have heard that there are files that have been submitted to Bal Mandir. Why are these files in Bal Mandir when Ministry has not completed the reviewing process?

A: These files were submitted prior to the suspension 2 years ago. These files will most likely have to be pulled and re-submitted with the Ministry as this is the new law. Unless the ministry decides to grand-father these cases in under the old process, they will have to start over with the Ministry.

"Namaste Nepal" television program will be broadcast via the following,
--ITV's channels 77 and 563 (or 503), both in Time Warner Cable,
--Cablevision channel 244,
--RCN 476

KATHMANDU, March 17 - With the government expediting the selection process for inter-country adoption, Nepali orphans and children abandoned by their families are only a few months away from their new homes abroad.

A list of Nepali children available for inter-country adoption is under scrutiny at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

The central matching committee under the ministry has been assigned to go ahead with the process. Of late, a total of 115 prospective foreign parents have applied seeking Nepali children for adoption.

It is mandatory for prospective adoptive parents to present a document from their home country permitting adoption.

"The matching process could take two to three months before the children are handed over to foreign adoptive parents," says Toya Nath Adhikari, legal officer at the ministry. "However, the process could be delayed because all registered orphanage homes have not submitted the list of children for adoption," he says.

Out of 38 registered orphanage homes, only a few have submitted lists of a total of 45 children. Owing to strict new regulations and lack of fund, the homes took a long time to submit their reports.

For the first time, the ministry has adopted new measures to maintain transparency in the entire selection process and also tried to maintain secrecy to ensure that no one influences the process, say ministry officials.

"We are closely watching the whole process," says Manoj Kumar Kandel, a representative of Canada-based international adoption agency -- Choice Adoption. "We hope the ministry will not be partial while handing over the children."

After media exposed corruption and rampant exploitation of children, the ministry decided to hold the process for 18 months until effective laws were enacted to plug loopholes.

Back then, there were cases where agents bypassed regulations to illegally procure babies for potential parents for large amounts.

Following pressure from the international community, the government eased the ban and came up with new rules to systematize the process.

Under the new regulations, prospective parents have to deal with registered adoption agencies from their home country or Nepal-based embassies. Earlier, they used to deal with orphanage homes.

Since the amount for adoption was not determined, prospective parents often ended up paying huge amounts for the baby of their choice.

Now, the adoption fee for each child has been fixed at 8,000 dollars, with 5,000 dollars going to children's homes and 3,000 dollars to the state.

The government has registered 62 international adoption agencies, and they have been asked to spend certain amount on the welfare of children in Nepal. Records at the ministry show that 2,244 Nepali children have been adopted since 2000 till date.

"We however need to monitor the government process," says Tulasa Kharel, a representative of an adoption agency based in Italy. A UNICEF study released last September had said that an "industry" had grown up around adoption in which profit rather than the best interest of the child took centre stage. The study also found instances of children who were not orphans being given away for adoption by parents as well as orphanages.

Posted on: 2009-03-17 22:26:08 (Server Time)

Vancouver's 4th Nepali Film Festival!

Sunday March 29, 2009

11am - 6:30pm at Langara College, 100 W. 49th Ave

Proceeds go to projects supporting children and youth in Nepal
Compelling and award-winning films by talented Nepali filmmakers
(English subtitles)

Doors Open 11am
Film Screenings at 11:30am, 2pm and 5pm
Discussion with political scientist, Dr. Ramjee Parajulee 3:45pm
Slide show of Sagarmatha National Park 4:15pm

Himalayan Market 11am - 6pm
Open to the public, handicrafts, displays & refreshments

Film details and ticket info:

http://www.tras.ca/filmfest/

Organized and co-sponsored by:
Trans Himalayan Aid Society (TRAS) www.tras.ca
Langara College Continuing Studies www.langara.bc.ca/cs
Langara Rotaract Club www.langararotaract.com

Indian-Nepalese Heritage Camp registration will
be opening this Friday, March 6 at 4 p.m. Mountain time. Check out the
Colorado Heritage Camps website at www.heritagecamps.org for details
and sign in for an account ahead of time to save time when registering.

Here are the statistics for Nepal adoptions over the last seven years.

Year Number of children placed in the U.S from Nepal

2008 54 children

2007 42 children

2006 66 children

2005 62 children

2004 73 children

2003 42 children

2002 12 children

Int'l adoption speeds up
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Feb 14 - The process of inter-country adoption has speeded
up with Nepal accepting applications from potential foster parents.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs has so far accepted
at least 50 applications seeking adoption of Nepali children --
orphans, children abandoned by their families or given for adoption by
parents unable to care for them -- from registered agencies.

The ministry is reviewing applications but no decision has been taken
on the new applications. It will take about a month for the
applications to be processed and adoptions to resume as the selection
committee needs to approve these applications, officials said.

Ministry officials said the process of matching prospective parents
and children would also begin soon after receiving documents of
children available for adoption from orphanages. The registered
orphanages, however, have still not submitted the status of children.

The process was put on hold for over one and half year since March 17,
2007, after irregularities in the adoption process came to light.

In order to regularise the process, the ministry had prepared new
terms and conditions. As per the new conditions, the entire process
will be dealt with by the ministry and the Home Ministry will have no
role as was the case earlier.

Prospective parents need to pay fees of US $ 8,000 with US $ 5,000
going to children's homes and US $ 3,000 to the government.

The government has registered 62 international adoption agencies,
which will each have to spend at least US $ 10,000 per year on the
welfare of children. Each agency, on the other hand, is allowed to
forward 10 applications of foster parents.

Records show that foreign foster parents have adopted 2,244 Nepali
children since 2000.
Posted on: 2009-02-13 21:17:53 (Server Time)

Namaste! This summer's plans for the Nepal Adoption Family Reunion (NAFR) have changed for the better and will include more families. The NAFR group is open to all families who have completed an adoption from Nepal, or who are in the process of doing so. This is a volunteer group and there are no fees to join or to participate. The goal of the group is to hold an annual event where our children can meet other children adopted from Nepal, as well as renew friendships from years past.

This summer's reunions will be held the weekend of 15-16 August, 2009, in the following locations:

---NY-NJ-PA-MD Reunion, 15 August in Barnegat, New Jersey

---NC-SC Reunion, 15 August, Final Location TBA

---Wisconsin Reunion, Final Location TBA

---FL-GA Reunion, 15 August, Tallahassee, Florida

Families wishing to attend the reunions are invited to contact Anna Burnley via email, NAFR2007@gmail.com , for more details. Members of the NAFR are also invited to host a reunion in their area.

Bird flu confirmed in eastern Nepal, emergency area declared
www.chinaview.cn 2009-02-21 12:22:27

KATHMANDU, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government has declared Sharanamtai Village Development Committee and adjoining areas in the eastern Jhapa district a bird flu emergency area after reoccurrence of bird flu disease was confirmed, The Kathmandu Post reported on Saturday.

According to the daily, the test carried out in the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kathmandu and OIL Reference Laboratory in London detected H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus in all six chicken samples collected from a poultry farm, some 320 km southeast of Kathmandu, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Hari Dahal said Friday.

The samples were sent to the laboratories for the detection of the virus following the death of some 150 chickens in the poultry farm.

Nepal had managed to remain safe from the avian virus even after it was traced in neighboring villages of India.

After the first outbreak of the disease in the country on Jan. 16, the government had declared emergency in the area that lies within a radius of 10 km from the quarantine office in Kakarbhittaof Jhapa district.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has said that measures will be taken to control the virus. In the emergency area, all birds, bird products and materials used for production of poultry will be destroyed.

NEPAL Currently the Nepal Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare will accept only ten applications for adoption from each licensed agency. As a very new program, agencies are working closely with the Ministry to meet all requirements and begin the process of matching children with families. Numerous charitable adoption agencies sponsor orphanages in Nepal and have done so for many years, providing the children with shelter, care, food and education. At this time, Nepal allows only "blind" adoptions, meaning that parent dossiers are matched to a child by the Ministry. Agencies who are now approved for adoption are lobbying to have referrals for their families come from their sponsored orphanage, in the hope of both carefully preparing children for families and providing families with accurate and updated information on the referred child. This is an excellent opportunity for the government of Nepal to truly work in the best interest of children, providing needed preparation and transition for these fragile children.

Adoption Agency Name Address Country Name
1 Enfants de 1'Espoir asbl 13 rue de Montigny ler e'tage 6000 CHARLEROI Belgium

2 The JOY-SOWERS De Vreugdezaaiers Tortelduifstraat 73 9000 GENT Belgium. Belgium

3 FuturesandFamiliesSocietyof BritishColumbiaCHOICES Adoption and Counselling
Suite 100-850 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC V8W2H2 Canada

4 Children's Bridge 1400 Clyde Avenue Ottawa ON K2 G 3J2 Canada

5 Societe d'Adoption Parents Sans Frontieres 3, rue des Goelettes Varennes Quebec, Canada Canada

6 Dan Adopt, Danish Society for International Child Care Hovegaden 24, 3460 Birkerod Denmark Denmark

7 AC International Child Support (Formerly Adoption Centre) Elkjærvej 31 DK-8230 Aabyhoj Denmark Denmark

8 Charity for adoption Oeuvre Del' Adoption 12 rue Bel Air 13006 Marseille France. France

9 Agence Francaise del Adoption 19 boulevard Henri IV 75004 Paris France. France

10 PARENTS Child-Bridge Bonhoeffer Str.17 69123 Heidelberg /Germany. Germany

11 Help a Child e.v. Kinder Finden Eltern D-56220 Kaltenengers (Kooblenz) Germany

12 The Icelandic Adoption Society Armuli 36, 108 Reykjavik P.Box 8334 Reykjavik Iceland

13 Network Aauito Assistenza Accoglienza-NAAA ONLUS Via San Maurizio N. 6 10073 CIRIE, Torino, Italy Italy

14 Associazione Ariete Onlus Via. G. Porzio No. 4, 1s-GI 80143 Nepoli Italy

15 Associazione Nazionale Pubbliche Assistenze (ANPAS) Via F. Baracca, 209 int 50127 Firenze FI-Italy Italy

16 Associazione Amici Trentini Sede di Via Esterle 26 Trento, Italy. Italy

17 INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION TARCENTO-Association
for the Family
Via Nazionale 41/2 33011-Artegna (UD) Italy. Italy

18 A.I.P.A. erga pueros onlus, via francesco duodo n 10 00136 Roma, Italy. Italy

19 Ai.Bi. Associazione Amici di Bambini Via Frassi 19 20077 Melegnano (MI) Italy. Italy

20 L' AIRONE onlus Viale Martiri 2 17031 Albenga (SV) Italy. Italy

21 Adopsjonsforum Mailbox 2364 Solli 0256 Oslo Norway Norway

22 ECAI Balbalika C/Inric Borras No 30 Baixos Baldalona 08912 -Barcelona,
Spain. Spain

23 Children Without Frontiers (Ass. Ninos sin Fronteras) C/Marques De Urquijo n. 9 1"A, 28. 008 Madrid Spain. Spain

24 Namaste Association Aragonesa Para La Promocion Dela
Infancia, C/Coso 79,2" D 50001, Zaragoza Spain. Spain

25 ANDENI (Asociacion Andaluza en Gefensa Del Nino Avda, Kansas city 28-Local 5-41007 Sevilla Spin Spain

26 ECAI Mami Wata Glorieta de la Tres Culturas Estacion de Auto buses oficinan 9,
CP: 14011 Cordoba Spain Spain

27 Children Above All-Adoptions Energigatan 11 SE 43437 Kungsbacka Sweden Sweden

28 Adoption Centrum Post Box 30073, 105 25 Stockholm Sweden Sweden

29 ASAEN (Association Suisse Des amis De L'enfance Nepalaise) 6 Ch. Du Funiculaire, CH-1006 Lausanne Switzerland

30 Faith International Adoptions 535 East Dock Street, Suite 103, Tacoma, WA, 98402, USA USA

31 Holt International Children's Services 1195 City View Eugene, OR 97402(541) 687-2202 USA

32 FAMILIES THRU INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION Inc. (FTIA)
400 Ben tee West Court Evansville, Indiana 47715 USA USA

33 Decolores Adoptions International 2615 Paul White Rd. Lake Charles Louisiana 70611, USA USA

34 The Gladney Centre for Adoption 6300 John Ryan Drive Fort Worth Texas 76132 USA

35 MAPS 277 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101 USA USA

36 The World Child â International Corporation 9300 Columbia Boulevard Silver Spring Maryland 20910 USA USA

37 All God's Children International 3308 NE Peerless Place Portland Oregon 97232 USA USA

38 NewBeginningsInternational Children's and Family Service, Inc,
2164 Southridge Drive, Tupelo, Mississippi 38801, USA USA

39 Children's Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS) 1605 Eustis St. Paul MN 55108 USA

40 Adoption Ark Inc. 830 S Buffalo Grove Rd. Suite 103 Buffalo Grove IL 60089 USA

41 Adoption Associates, Inc 1338 Baldwin Jenison MI 49428 USA

42 INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION NET 2305 E. Arapahoe Road # 248 Centennial, Colorado 80122 USA USA

43 Illien Adoptions International Inc. 1250 Piedmont Avenue, NE Atlanta GA 30309 USA USA

44 Adoption Forever 509 Strathmore Road, Havertown, Pennsylvania USA USA

45 Adoption Star Inc, 47 Plaza Drive Williamsville NY 14221, USA USA

46 International Family Services 700 S Friendswood Drive, Suite A Friendswood, Texas USA USA

47 Wide Horizons For Children Inc. 38 Edge Hill Road Waltham Massachusetts 02451 USA USA

48 Kentucky Adoption Services Inc. 3808 S Griffith Avenue Owensboro, Kentucky 42301USA USA

49 Adoption Alliance 2121 S. Oneida St., Ste. 420, Denver, Colorado 80224 USA USA

50 International Families Inc. 5 Thomas Circle NW Washington DC 2005 USA USA
51 Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI) 520 Dublin Road Perkasie PA 18944-3000, USA USA

52 Journeys of the Heart 1005 NE Cornell Road Hillsboro Oregon, USA USA

53 The Barker Foundation 7979 Old Georgette Road First Floor Bethesda MD 20814 USA USA

54 Hopes Promise 309 Jerry Street Suite 202 Castle Rock, CO 80104 USA USA

55 Adoption International Inc 10935 Estate Lane Suite 271 Dallas Texas 75238 USA USA

56 Crossroads Adoption Services 4600 W. 77th Street Suite 200 Minneapolis, Minnesota USA USA

57 Carolina Adoption Services 301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500 Greensboro NC 27401 USA USA

58 La Vida International 150 s. Warner Road, Suite 144 King of Prussia PA USA 19406 USA

59 Adoption-A Gift of Love 35 Rolling Hills Circle Denton, Texas 76205-8560 USA USA

60 Life's Vision International 4580 Klahaine Drive SE # 114 Issaquah WA 98029 USA USA

61 Adopt International & domestic Services 1000 Brannon Street, Suite 301 San Francisco CA 94103 USA

62 Florida Home Studies and Adoption Inc. 5930 Palmer Blvd Sarasota, FL34232 USA

Parent/s eligible to adopt a Nepali Child as stated in
"Terms and Conditions and Process for Granting Approval for
Adoption of Nepali Child by an Alien - 2065 (2008)"

1. Married Couples completing more than 4 years of their marriage.
2. Single women after completing 35 years but not exceeding 55 years. The single women may be
either unmarried or widow or divorced or legally separated.
3. The age difference between the children to be adopted and the adoptive parent/s must be more
than 30 years.
4. Parent/s already having son or daughter shall not be allowed to adopt the children of same sex.
5. If the parent/s bear any biological or adopted son or daughter at home, the newly adopting son
or daughter must be younger than the children already at home. But this provision no longer
will prevail if the adopting children are siblings.
Dossier Required according to "Terms and Conditions and Process for Granting Approval for
Adoption of Nepali Child by an Alien - 2065 (2008)"

All documents should be in English. Notary public/ Authorized entity must attest documents translated from other languages.
1 Consent letter from concerned authority of the home country of adoptive parent/s.
2 Guarantee letter from the concerned authority (Government or Embassy) of the home country specifying that under the law of the country, the status of the adopted child is equal to that of biological child.
3 Birth certificate of applicant/s.
4 Documents proving the marital status of the applicant/s.
5 Family status including the birth certificate/s of biological/adoptive (if any)
6 Health certificate of applicant/s issued by licensed medical practitioner.
7 Character certificate of applicant/s issued by Government authority.
8 Documents proving properties and income sources of the applicant/s.
9 Photocopy of passport of applicant/s.
10 Social, psychological and home study report of applicant/s.

Additional Supporting Documents
1. Covering letter of the Embassy/ Diplomatic Mission/Adoption agency.
2. Photographs depicting exteriors and interiors of living apartment/residence.
3. Commitment of the applicants to comply with post adopting requirements.

Registration for the 6th Annual NWichild Heritage Weekend (March 19-22nd, in
Lynnwood, WA) is now open!

Heritage Weekend is a gathering of families who are interested in or
have adopted from India and other South Asian countries (like Nepal,
Sri Lanka, etc.). This family culture camp is organized by the Seattle contingent
of NWichild, a regional adoption support network for families with
children from South Asian countries. Heritage Weekend was
created to provide learning opportunities for our kids about their
birth cultures. The community and the events are warm, open,
supportive and fun. Activities such as crafts, games and cultural
demonstrations or performances share the beauty of our children's cultural
heritage. There are also plenty of opportunities for fun and
socializing. We hope you'll check out the description of events and
consider joining us!

We especially welcome new and waiting families.

Online registration can be found at http://www.nwichild.org/localevents.htm or by visiting
www.nwichild.org and clicking the link to Heritage Weekend.

Registration is due by February 27th and do register
early, we had a waiting list last year!

Any questions, please contact Karen at kbrtmyr AT mac DOT com

Ethica is pleased to offer its first webinar series for prospective adoptive families as they begin to pursue the adoption process. Please join us as we explore issues surrounding adoption fraud, how to choose an agency, and the implications of adopting from a "Hague" country. Note that space is limited so please register early. Thank you!
Ethica
Webinar 1: February 25th, 7-8:30PM EST
"Adoption Fraud 101: What to look out for in your international adoption process."

Many adoptive families rely on testimonials from other adoptive families as well as information from their adoption agency to prepare for the adoption process. However what many families are unaware of are the uncertainties that can come with their adoptions; policy changes by both sending and receiving countries, as well as unethical and sometimes illegal practices leading to adoption fraud. Ethica has
assisted hundreds of families who were unable or barely able to complete their adoptions as a result of crises that could have either been avoided or handled to meet the best interests of the child involved. This workshop will guide families through what to look for in their contracts (gag clauses, refunds), what are reasonable requests from your agency (fee changes, foster care, etc.), and examples of adoption fraud that have led to indictments and lawsuits. Attendees will be better able to advocate for themselves to their agencies as well as to state and federal authorities.

Webinar 2: March 18, 7-8:30PM EST
"From Good Samaritans to Convicts - How to Choose an Ethical International Adoption Agency"

The most common request Ethica receives is, "how can families choose an ethical adoption agency?" Families are increasingly aware of adoptions being in limbo, stretching out for years, or not being completed at all due to unethical agency practices. This workshop will cover the basics on what to look for in an agency, what best practices are used and recognized within the adoption service provider community, as well as where the most common concerns are regarding establishing a child's status as an orphan (according to international and U.S. laws). Case studies of agency practices will be covered with first person accounts, as well as insight from agency personnel and government representatives. Attendees will have a greater understanding of what resources are available to them and ways to evaluate agency promises and performance.

Webinar 3: April 8, 7-8:30PM EST
"The Hague Convention 1 Year Later: Successes and Drawbacks"

The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption was ratified by the U.S. in April 2007, after nearly 15 years after signing the agreement. Since then, the U.S.has gone down the path of accrediting adoption
agencies and encouraging sending countries to "become Hague." This workshop will give an overview of the Convention's history, incentives for families to adopt from Hague countries, and case studies of the
Hague's successes and drawbacks with insight from adoption policy experts and adoption agency personnel. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of how the Hague impacts their adoptions (China,
Guatemala, El Salvador, strong potential for Ethiopia and Vietnam).

This week's Creating a Family show, Feb. 4 will be about how to decide
whether to accept a referral or birth mother match. The guest will be
Dr. Dana Johnson, Director of the International Adoption Clinic at the
University of Minnesota and Professor of Neonatology, and they'll
discuss what factor are red flags, what questions to ask, what are the
greatest indicators of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and attachment
disorders, and how to interpret the scant medical history provided.

Send any questions to dawn@creatingafamily.com and listen in either during the show (12-1 Eastern Time) or after it air at the radio page of www.CreatingaFamily.com, or download it from iTunes. Please pass the news about this show to other forums and groups.

Dawn Davenport
Host of the internet radio show "Creating a Family: Talk about
Adoption and Infertility"
www.creatingafamily.com
The Complete Book of International Adoption (Random House)

From the U.S. Department of State (D.O.S. travel guide -- Nepal):

"In a November 2002 press release, the Maoists claimed responsibility for targeting and murdering two locally-hired U.S. Embassy security guards. In 2003, the Department of State designated the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a Terrorist Organization under the "Terrorist Exclusion List" of the Immigration and Nationality Act and under Executive Order 13224. These two designations make Maoists excludable from entry into the United States and bar U.S. citizens from transactions such as contribution of funds, goods, or services to, or for the benefit of, the Maoists."

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_980.html

The Maoists are still on State's "Terrorist Exclusion List." Agency employees and adoptive parents need to realize that any "gifts" to Nepal's ruling Maoists may bring the unwelcome attention of Homeland Security.

Also, it is illegal to bring more than $2000 cash into Kathmandu without making a customs declaration.

From the U.S. Department of State:

"As of this writing, travelers must declare any cash currency carried that exceeds $2,000 in value by filling out a custom's declaration form. The Nepalese Department of Immigration has reported an increasing number of foreigners being arrested for currency violations. Travelers should ensure that they keep a copy of the declaration form after customs officials have put the endorsement on the form to prevent any problems upon departure."

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_980.html

(In the past, some agencies have required adoptive families to carry large sums of cash to Kathmandu.)

In any case, the entire D.O.S. travel guide is worth reading (particularly the security warnings). At the moment, Nepal has a Maoist Prime Minister, no permanent constitution, and power outages running 16 hours each day.

Again, from the U.S. Department of State:

"SAFETY AND SECURITY: A Travel Warning remains in effect because the Department of State continues to be concerned about the security situation in Nepal. Despite the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on November 21, 2006, Maoists and other political movements continue extortion, abduction and killing. Since April 2006, numerous groups using violent methods to advance various political goals have formed in Nepal. Business people (both Nepalese and foreign) and tourists who resist Maoist extortion demands have been threatened, sometimes assaulted, and risk being detained. Maoist demonstrators have stopped and in some cases attacked vehicles, including those of the U.S. Embassy. Since early 2007, the Maoist Young Communist League (YCL) has harassed and attacked established tourist facilities and infrastructure, and has threatened Kathmandu-based personnel of a U.S. non-governmental organization. In May 2007, YCL cadre attacked with stones a UN
High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) vehicle carrying the UNHCR Resident Representative and the U.S. Ambassador in Jhapa District in the Terai.

The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends against non-essential travel to the Terai, the southern region bordering India. Maoist splinter groups in the Terai as well as other violent Terai-based groups continue to kidnap and murder Nepalese citizens. Additionally, ongoing political agitation and civil unrest in the Terai, including violent clashes between various political groups and Maoist splinter groups, as well as inter-communal violence and criminality, have increased. The random, indiscriminate, and unpredictable nature of these attacks creates the risk of U.S. citizens in Nepal being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Since the ceasefire in April 2006, hotels and businesses frequented by American citizens have been the target of extortion demands and, in some cases, have become the focus of demonstrations. In November 2006, resident Americans reported that they were told that they would have to house and feed Maoists intending to participate in rallies in Kathmandu. In a few cases, local Nepali staff of the American residents were threatened or beaten when they attempted to resist this demand. The discrepancy between the Maoists' publicly stated intentions and their behavior, combined with their consistent anti-American rhetoric, remains a serious concern.

Americans traveling to Nepal should be aware of the potential for large or violent demonstrations. Frequently, demonstrators burn vehicles, throw rocks at passing motorists, and burn tires to block traffic. Given the frequency, nature, intensity and unpredictability of disturbances, American citizens are urged to exercise particular caution when demonstrations are announced or reported, avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming, avoid road travel during these periods and maintain a low profile. Demonstrations can occur with little or no advance notice. American citizens are urged to consult media sources and the Embassy's web site (http://nepal.usembassy.gov) for current security information. Click the "Demonstration Alert" link."

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_980.html

Give Meaning is an on-line donation site. They support a variety of charitable and philanthropic work. In order to be given the support a proposal must receive 100 votes. There is an important proposal to help Nepali women being voted on now, and it needs those hundred votes by February 7, if it gets them by then it will be approved for on-line donations.

Please help out by following this link and casting your vote! You won't be asked for money, just your name and your email address. Of course, once there are 100 votes anyone can then please feel free to donate to the project.

Here is the link

http://www.givemeaning.com/proposal/help

and here is more about it from the site:
CORE International, (www.core-international.org) a registered Canadian charity is partnering with a local Nepal NGO - RHEST to fund an education, prevention and treatment project for Nepali women suffering from the distressing and painful condition of uterine prolapse. Nepali women are the workhorses of the rural community, carrying heavy loads and working in the rice fields along with their household duties.

It is estimated that at least 600,000 women in Nepal have some degree of Uterine Prolapse which occurs when tissues and ligaments supporting the uterus weaken causing the uterus to descend into the vaginal canal. Factors which contribute to this condition include hard physical labour during and after pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, low availability of trained birth attendants, and poor health of mothers from poor nutrition and disease. The women suffer from pain, urinary incontinence, bowel problems and are often ostracized in their families and communities. This is a significant health problem in the rural communities in Nepal and a simple awareness and education program can contribute greatly to reducing the distress and prevalence of the condition. This project will raise awareness in the community as well as training local health workers to identify the problems and refer women for treatment. Women will be screened and the most severe cases referred for corrective surgery. The project is linked with another project providing free corrective surgery. CORE has been carrying out projects in Nepal for over 3 years, including micro-credit projects for poor and widowed women, out of school education programs for urban poor children, and English classes for child porters in the Everest area. For more information on CORE's mission and on-going projects please visit our website. www.core-international.org.

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