BASE honoured with Anti-Slavery Award 2002

December 3, 2002
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KATHMANDU, Dec 3:Backward Society Education (BASE), a non-governmental organisation instrumental in spearheading Kamaiya (bonded labourers) liberation movement in Nepal two years ago, has been conferred with Anti Slavery Award 2002.

The prestigious award was presented to BASE’s founder and director, Dilli Chaudhary by Lord Wilberforce at an exclusive function held in London, United Kingdom, on Tuesday evening, according to the website of Anti-Slavery International (www.anti-slavery.org).

BASE has been fighting against the poverty, bonded labour and exploitation of the indigenous Tharu minority in western Nepal. It focuses on the empowerment and mobilisation of bonded labourers and other impoverished people providing human rights education, skills training, literacy and small business support as well as organising bonded labourers to undertake their own campaigns against their conditions.

Thanks to the liberation movement, the government liberated nearly 200,000 bonded labourers scattered in the districts of Banke, Bardia, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur two years ago. The ex-Kamaiyas were working as bonded labourers in their landlords’ houses to pay off the debts taken by their fathers or forefathers.

Now a number of ex-Kamaiya rehabilitation programmes are underway in the said districts.

Anti-Slavery International instituted the Anti-Slavery Award in 1991 to draw attention to the continuing problem of slavery in the world today and to provide recognition for long-term, courageous campaigning by organisations or individuals in the countries most affected.

Nominations are sought annually from over 350 organisations around the

world and the winner is selected by a panel composed of invited people from a wide background, chosen for their knowledge of the various contemporary forms of slavery.

During the visit, Anti-Slavery International organizes a full programme of visits to government officials (both British and others), meetings with non-governmental organisations and support groups, as well as briefings with UK and overseas media.

“There is no cash grant given with the medal, but the publicity generated by the presentation is expected to assist the recipient’s work and to offer some protection in the carrying out of his/her humanitarian work,” the website said.