Kathmandu, November 30:

Special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal, Ian Martin, today emphasised on a new political consensus and vision and a new road map for the peace process.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Feminist Dalit Organisation here, Martin said political parties should reach consensus with the civil society and traditionally marginalised groups, including Dalit women, in order to build a broader, participatory framework to strengthen the peace process. Dalit women should be represented in these processes, he added.

“The United Nations is convinced that the success of Nepal’s peace process lies in the mobilisation of all democratic forces in support of the process, including the Constituent Assembly elections,” he.

Saying that the spirit of Jana Andolan-II signalled the hopes of people’s from traditionally marginalised groups for an equal place in public and political life, Martin said that women, including from Dalit, must be able to exercise their rights as equal citizens of Nepal and should be free from discrimination and violence.

“Indeed, the impact of discrimination upon the lives of Dalits, and Dalit women and girls in particular, in districts and village communities across the country and at the national level remains a great challenge to the establishment of democracy in Nepal,” he added.