ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter gives an overview of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and related literature, situating the case of Nepal within this literature. While WPS issues in the early 2000s were relegated to the margins of UN peace and security politics, WPS has now become a formal item on the Security Council agenda. Bilateral, multilateral and regional institutions have provided substantial support for women's rights and political participation in Nepal. Nepali women's organizations have increasingly used United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 as an advocacy tool to put pressure on the government and political parties to include women in the peace process and constitution-drafting. Nepal's National Action Plan on UNSC Resolutions 1325 and 1820 does address the needs of female ex-combatants, although primarily as individuals in need of humanitarian assistance or social rehabilitation. Finally, the chapter presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book.
