Reimagining Borders & Rights through the Voices of Displaced/Stateless Women in Nepal

2026-07-22

Hannah Arendt noted in the 1950s that human rights are dependent on the ‘right to have rights’. Gaps continue to exist in provisions of (inter)national frameworks of rights and in how borders are experienced. It is in these ‘grey’ spaces created by such gaps that displaced and stateless persons inhabit—spaces referred to as borderscapes. By exploring borderscapes, we gain a view of Kathmandu's cityscape through the voices of displaced and stateless women, witnessing their intersectional resistances as they claim their rights. This approach decenters from legal status as a primary mode of analysis and uncovers underexplored imaginaries of rights and pathways for social change. Voicescape offers an avenue to reimagine rights by those in the borderscape. It aims to reshape rights-framed research and community-led change models for these women, contributing to Law and Development (L&D) by connecting with critical theories from border studies, gender studies, and beyond. This transdisciplinary perspective, grounded in epistemologies from the margins and critical-participatory research methodologies, shifts the focus from traditional legal frameworks to a bottom-up view of legal status. Voicescape hypothesises that these women establish counter-territorial epistemologies that reshape the relationship between the individual and the state. As a participatory action research project, it will facilitate inclusive dialogues between women and NGOs, leveraging targeted dissemination efforts. A collaborative research and communications plan will produce joint outputs, enhancing the visibility and impact of women’s voices in broader socio-political contexts. A subsequent placement period will further influence practice with community-driven solutions. Voicescape aims to conceptual and practical contributions—advocating for inclusive, locally-led approaches to addressing the gendered violences of borders in Nepal and influencing global practices in law and development.

Belgium

2026-01-01