Informal Service Center (INSEC) works for the protection and promotion of human rights in Nepal. Founded by human rights defender, Prakash Kaphley, and prominent human rights activist Sushil Pyakurel in 1988, the institution has contributed to protecting and promoting the fundamental rights of people in virtually all sectors by initiating collective efforts at district and regional levels and advocating and campaigning at the national level.
Human Rights Activist (with Blue Jacket) Monitoring the Peoples' Movement announced by Seven Party Alliance in Kathmandu in April 2006
INSEC's vision is a society where:
- people, government, law enforcing and other concerned agencies are aware of the issues and incidences of Human Rights violations and act accordingly
- people, their representatives, the government, law enforcing agencies and other stakeholders are educated, sensitized and trained and take actions to protect and promote Human Rights in the country, as per international treaties and conventions
- peacebuilding and democratic consolidation play an effective role
- the institutional competence of community-based organisations enables them to work together on human rights, peacebuilding, and policy advocacy.
Human Rights Activist and Internally Displaced Persons during rehabilitation in the interaction program at their origin on May 2005at Jumla District
Immediately after its inception, INSEC implemented programs targeting the cart pushers in the Kalimati area of Kathmandu valley. Fundamentally, those programs sought to protect their economic rights through awareness of basic human rights, advocacy and campaigning for the provision of fair wages.
Participating in a Child Competition on the Occasion of International Children Day on 20 November 2004 under the Peace Building Campaign in Bardiya
Following the restoration of democracy in 1990, the organisations work placed a greater focus on the promotion of democratic ideas. The implementation of INSEC's programmes include campaigning, creating awareness, and conducting educational programmes in order to enable people to assert their civil and political rights, documenting of the human rights situation of Nepal and disseminating their findings in national and international arenas. Similarly, educating, monitoring, lobbying, advocating, research and giving training on issues related to human rights have been other regular undertakings of INSEC for more than 15 years.
Committed to social welfare, INSEC focuses on working with disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society. Targeted groups include agricultural workers, underprivileged women and socially discriminated people such as Dalits and children.
INSEC Chairperson Subodh Raj Pyakurel (with Cap) lighting the candle for Peace in Kathmandu jointly with other Human Rights Activist