Kumar Bhattarai, 58, has been appointed as the new executive director of CWIN Nepal, a long-standing partner of FORUT, succeeding Sumnima Tuladhar, who has taken on the role of Nepal’s ambassador to the Nordic and Baltic countries.
Kumar comes from the southeastern Terai region of Nepal, near the Indian border. He moved to Kathmandu for his studies in the 1980s and involved in the student movement, which was crucial in transitioning Nepal from a one-party system to a multiparty democracy before 1990.
CWIN Nepal is a leading child rights organization founded by a group of students, led by Gauri Pradhan, who were involved in the movement for human rights and democracy in Nepal. The organization focuses on advocacy, prioritizing both child protection and community empowerment for children and adolescents.
Kumar joined CWIN in 1995, leaving a teaching career to focus on his work there. Initially, he served as a field officer, working on reintegrating street children into their families and communities. This effort not only aimed to safeguard vulnerable children but also sought to educate parents, teachers, police, and other local stakeholders about children’s rights. This community engagement raised public awareness about child rights, which was largely overlooked at the time, fostering trust and legitimacy within local communities—an essential factor in CWIN’s ongoing success.
In 2000 Kumar became FORUT’s contact for a peace dividend project aimed at supporting Nepal’s peace process following a decade-long armed conflict. This initiative began in Dolakha, a mountainous region a few hours’ drive from Kathmandu.
For many years, Kumar served as CWIN’s program director, leading the advocacy department and acting as the organization’s spokesperson. He has extensive experience of working with civil society organizations’ Networks, particularly in child rights and public education, as a leader. His persistent diplomatic approach has been vital in persuading the government to assume responsibility for the child and adolescent mental health services developed by CWIN and FORUT over the past decade.
Ståle Stavrum, the head of FORUTs international department, says that “even though CWIN has fostered a diplomat (Sumnima), Kumar has always been the diplomat of CWIN.”
Stavrum is convinced that CWIN is in safe hands and that they will continue to succeed in making child rights a reality for years to come. The need to protect children is still a pending issue since children still are facing many dangers, online abuse, violence, alcohol and drug abuse, suicides and other mental health challenges.
