It started as a loose, informal forum in June 2001 and was registered with the government of Nepal as a non-profit, non-political network in December 2002. It aims to provide a common space for its members, volunteers and friends to collectively engage in the pursuit for peace, human rights and justice in Nepal. It organizes national/regional level campaigns and conferences on the issues of peace and human rights in coordination with its member organizations and other like-minded organizations. COCAP has a large number of volunteers who actively involve themselves in the various aspects of its works.
More than a dozen of Dalit organizations emerged up at the wake of the democracy in 1950; almost all of them envisioned social reformation as a prime strategy to end the caste-based discrimination and its offshoots. Samaj Sudhar Sangh (Association for Social Reformation-1952), for example organized the Pashupati Temple Entry program, so did the Nepal Rashtriya Pariganit Parishad in 1957. Likewise, Nimna Samaj Sudhar Sangh (Social Reform Association for the Lower Castes-1951), Jaat Tod Mandal (Caste Dissolution Alliance -1951), Pariganit Nari Sangh (Association for Scheduled Caste Women -1955, Rastriya Achhut Mukti Parishad (National Council for the Liberation from Untouchability -1958), Nepal Rashtriya Dalit Jana Bikaash Parishad (National council for Dalit People’s Development in Nepal -1967)including dozens of other Dalit organizations seem to have adopted social reformation as an instrumental tool for Dalits to come out of their suffering.Although, Dalit organizations began sprouting following the instatement of democracy in 1950, most of them remained either inactive or disappeared after a year or so.
