South Asia Regional Meeting

Kathmandu, Nepal
April 25-26, 2003

Kathmandu Declaration

We the delegates the South Asian Affiliates of IPPNW, together with International participants, reaffirm our commitment to create a better world where all peoples, with their diverse socio-cultural identity and participation, are able to assert their rights to health, ecologically sustainable development, and harmonious living without fear of wars, violence, torture, subjugation, exploitation and discrimination of all forms. People are the source of history, wisdom, culture and civilization at any time and place. The intent to dominate and exploit communities, peoples and nations along with their environmental and mental domains, is the principle determinant of all wars and conflicts, and therefore is immoral, irresponsible and illegitimate. We solemnly believe that, together with the peoples of the world, we would ultimately be able to create a world where the cult to dominate, and along with that, all forms of war, conflict and exploitation could be eliminated for all the times to come. We, therefore, declare that:

1. Peace is not a mere absence of war. Peace is the transformation of sociopolitical and ecological conditions allowing the peoples in the world to prosper and live with dignity and without fear, and without a sense of guilt. This transformation can be achieved through active process of identification, participatory dialogue and analysis and elimination of all determinants of all forms of war, conflict and exploitation from human societies and environments of the world. The struggle for peace can not be complete without redressing the harms already occurred.
2. We oppose the military buildups, nuclearization, arms race and conflicts in South Asia including the state of perpetual tension between India and Pakistan. We appeal the governments of India and Pakistan to engage in a serious and honest dialogue to resolve the tension peacefully and work together for the prosperity and well being of the peoples of both countries and the region.
3. We strongly condemn the unjust war in Iraq. We demand immediate and unconditional withdraw of occupying forces. We urge the United Nations to fulfill its obligation to assist the Iraqi people to rebuild their nation and install democratically elected government.
4. All conflicting and contesting parties in the countries of the region like Nepal and Sri Lanka should resolve the conflicts by honest dialogue with sincere commitment towards the conflict transformation, without resorting to violence.
5. We abhor all forms of fundamentalism. We also understand that these are the byproducts of and reaction to the lust for the domination of the world. We will continue to work to uproot these evils.
6. Affiliates of IPPNW in the region will continue to unite and activate the peoples across the nations and political divides to prevent nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. We take a strong stand for the elimination of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, landmines and weapons of mass destruction from the planet including a ban on their research, development, production, testing, stockpiling, trade and use of these weapons.
7. We strongly demand and campaign for disarmament and oppose trade, trafficking and stockpiling of any other arms including small arms. We strongly advocate a drastic reduction in military spending and divert the saved resources to develop social capitals and human goods including health and education.
8. We resist any forced top-down development model that 'scorns life and worships things' to legitimize unequal and unjust relations between and among the nations, peoples, thus forcing the peoples to have "nightmare as their only dream." We deplore the "crime and delirium of the society of waste"—the richest 6 percent of humanity gulping down one third of all the energy and one third of all natural resources used worldwide. We oppose the world powers that continue to squander fossil fuel. We also reject the further development of inherently unsafe and risky nuclear power plants and call instead for a global investment in clean, renewable and sustainable energy alternatives.
9. Health is an integral part of a human’s living, shared among and with other humans and biotic community. Therefore, health is to be holistic and a basic right of all humans. The constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) stating that "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, and economic or social condition" must be strictly enforced. Health for All should be urgently ensured in the spirit of Alma-Ata Declaration.
10. Peace, health and development of the people are not commodities to be prescribed. These are developed by and with the people and not on or to the people. We strongly advocate people’s empowerment ensuring their initiatives and actions for peace, health and development. Health and development programs should be sensitive to gender issues.
11. Transparency and accountability at all levels of public services and delivery of human goods are the mainstay for the informed decision and behavior of the people, and for the social responsibility of the professionals.
12. We advocate and actively work for a democratic, need based and sustainable culture and environment to replace the existing consumption and profit-oriented culture.
13. We support international moves to democratize the UN Systems. We also take a strong stand for the enforcement of the rightful authority of UN.
14. We appeal all professionals, social and political activists and intellectuals to become the parts of the upcoming people initiated movements in the region and the world for peace, health and development for all.

Kathmandu, April 26, 2003