Community Mediators' Society Nepal

The Community Mediators’ Society Nepal (CMS-N) is an umbrella organization and network of community mediators in Nepal. CMS-N aims to ensure the rights and interests of community mediators and oversee their proper management, to contribute to the effective institutionalization of the mediation program in Nepal. 

The organization was initiated as a response to community mediators’ wishes to organise as a group and was legally registered as a non profit non governmental organization in Kathmandu in 2010.

Some insights from the President of CMS-N, Ms. Shobha Basnet:

1. How did CMS-N come to exist and why is the network important?

When the idea of the Community Mediators’ Society first arose, The Asia Foundation’s Community Mediation programme had already been underway for many years. In fact, it was time for the wrap up of that phase of the programme, and the future was not yet clear. Those who had been trained and were working as Community Mediators felt there was a need to create a platform where mediators could come together and connect with one another. They also recognized the need to create a strong voice at the central level to lobby for the changes needed to make community mediation more sustainable in Nepal. It was for these reasons that CMS-N came to exist.

2. What are the next steps for CMS-N?

At the moment the CMS-N membership is made up of mediators who were trained by one of the five NGOs who implemented TAF’s Community Mediation Programme. However, Community Mediation is supported and implemented by a number of actors in Nepal. In order to truly represent Nepal’s Community Mediators, CMS-N now aims to open up its membership to mediators who have been trained by and worked on programmes implemented by other organizations. In addition to this, CMS-N plans to continue to lobby for the recognition of mediators rights and responsibilities, and to ensure that Community Mediators can bring a strong voice to the national level.

What is mediation?

Mediation is a means of resolving disputes. It involves an impartial third party – the mediator – who intervenes in a conflict with the consent of the disputing parties and assists them in finding a lasting solution. Mediation is a voluntary process and ensures that people make their own decisions.

What is community mediation?

Community mediation aims to resolve disputes that occur at the community level. In Nepal, the conflicts addressed by community mediation are commonly related to family, domestic and/or neighbourhood issues. It can be the case that the conflict that is visible at the surface is caused by a much deeper issue, for example, relating to caste, gender or access to resources. The community mediators live in the communities in which they work. They work on a voluntary basis and are representative of the diversity of their communities.

Community mediation does not deal with criminal cases such as violent assault.

Watch the video (in Nepali) on Community Mediation in Nepal made by the Mediation Council of Nepal, an apex body for Mediation in Nepal.

Nepal’s Mediation Act was passed in 2011 (2068). However it was not implemented until 2014 (2071). The Act provides a legal basis for all types of mediation in Nepal, including Community Mediation. The implementation of the Mediation Act also paved the way for the establishment of the Mediation Council. The Mediation Council will help to ensure that Mediation Service delivery in Nepal is of a high standard. This will be achieved through quality assurance of mediation training and service provision. To check the Mediation Act and Regulation, please click on the link.

Community Mediators’ Society Nepal is currently operating its program in 20 project districts across Nepal.

Province Number 1: Dhankuta

Province Number 2: Dhanusha, Sarlahi

Province Number 3:  Chitwan, Dolakha, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk

Province Number 4: Kaski, Tanahu, Nawalpur

Province Number 5: Nawalparasi, Banke

Province Number 7: Kailali, Doti, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur

The first board election took place in October 2011, when a board was elected for the following four years. The board meets at least four times a year. In addition to the board there is a management committee, including five board members, which meets more regularly and is responsible for making operational decisions, which are then approved by the board at the next meeting. The management committee reports to the board and passes on decisions to CMS staff members. Learn more.

At present CMS has 4382 members, based in 20 districts of Nepal. Due to the number of trained community mediators within these districts, there is the potential to reach 8000 members. However CMS-N ultimately aims to expand its membership into other districts, thereby significantly increasing its membership reach. Learn more.

If you are interested in Becoming a member, please follow the link for details.

Currently, CMS-N is implementing the project named “Promote Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Nepal through local-level dispute resolution” supported by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through The Asia Foundation.

For details on the project, please click here