During Nepal’s fourth-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR), UN Member States’ recommendations called for stronger action against caste-based discrimination, “untouchability”, and related patterns of exclusion and violence affecting Dalits, including Dalit women and Dalit children.
A Joint Submission by Dalit CSOs Consortium to the United Nations - Universal Periodic Review 51st Session (Fourth Cycle) of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council (HRC) Concerning Caste-based Discrimination and Violence against Dalits in Nepal Submitted by: Dalit CSOs Consortium for UPR Nepal (DCC-UN) This consortium comprises over 30 Dalit-led organizations dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of the Dalit community. Operating across various sectors and regions of the country, the member organizations bring a diverse range of experiences and expertise to their collective efforts. In collaboration with: International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN)
Joint submission by IDSN, DSN Finland, DSN Norway, ARISA and IMADR.
For the preparation of the report, consultations and discussions have been held with more than 223 Dalit civil society organizations and other human rights organizations in Nepal. The report has been prepared consulting with various stakeholders, concerned members, experts/specialists at state government and Prime Minister's office, concerned ministries, parliamentary committees, honorable members of parliament, Dalit commission, women commission among others, Dalit people's organizations, civil society, human rights activists and Dalit civil society's heads and representatives and journalists.
In February, the IDSN Membership Coordinator took part in the National Stakeholder Consultation on the UN UPR in Nepal, organised by IDSN members the Dalit NGO Federation, Feminist Dalit Organization & Jagaran Media Centre together with IDSN Affiliate the Dalit Welfare Organisation and over thirty other Dalit NGOs in Nepal. The Consultation highlighted the need to act to end caste discrimination and promote caste gender justice. Over 70 participants from CSOs, media, academia, and Government took part in the consultation.
The Concluding Observations of the May 2018 review of Nepal, by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), includes dozens of remarks relating to caste-based discrimination and several strongly worded recommendations on fighting it. Read the full IDSN analysis