The Indigenous World 2025: Nepal
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census of Nepal, the population of Indigenous Peoples in Nepal is 35.08% of the total population of 29,164,578. However, Indigenous academics and movement leaders believe they are the majority. Sixty Indigenous Peoples in Nepal are formally recognized by the government, and 19 more were identified in the 2021 census but are yet to be formally recognized. All have been facing systematic discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization because of colonization and continued racism from the dominant Hindu patriarchy for centuries.
These systemic issues include land grabbing in various forms, criminalization of customary practices, militarization, involuntary eviction, and displacement due to development aggression using the Constitution, laws, policies, rules and regulations, directives, plans, and programs. These practices are formulated and implemented without ever obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples and are manifested in many ways – visible and invisible. Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples have serious concerns about the continued violation, interference, abuse, and non-compliance of international laws and human rights standards, including International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) General Recommendation No. 39 (2022), which Nepal has ratified or adopted. Further, Nepal has done nothing to implement the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s (CERD) early warning and recommendations, or those made by the CEDAW Committee.
This article is part of the 39th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. The photo above is of an Indigenous activist Funa-ay Claver, a Bontok Igorot, standing alongside Indigenous youth activists and others. They are protesting against the repressive laws and human rights violations suffered through the actions and projects of the Government of the Philippines and other actors against Indigenous Peoples at President Marcos Jr’s national address on 22 July 2024 in Quezon City, Philippines. The photo was taken by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas and is the cover of The Indigenous World 2025 where this article is featured. Find The Indigenous World 2025 in full here
The year 2024 started with a showing of Masinya,[1] a powerful play by Tamang Indigenous youth on the historical injustices perpetrated by the State.[2],[3] The year ended with political plays on confrontations between Yakthung (Limbu) young human rights defenders defending their sacred Mundhum[4] site – Mukumlung[5] – and the armed police force defending a business company encroaching on the sacred site, as well as a coalition government formed with an agenda that includes amending the constitution.[6]
Issues Indigenous youth are facing in Nepal
Indigenous youth in Nepal face different issues. First, Indigenous youth are not legally recognized as such. Not being recognized makes them invisible in the constitution, laws, and the government’s policies, plans and programs.
This year, two youth summits, one national and the other international, were held in Nepal, but unfortunately, the representation and participation of Indigenous youth’s organizations, such as the Youth Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, Nepal (YFIN, Nepal), and their issues, had no place in either. These were the Intercontinental Youth Forum (IYF), in which thousands of young people from various countries convened in Kathmandu from 17-19 February 2024,[7] and the Nepal Youth Summit that was held from 12-13 August 2024 with the participation of some 170 young leaders from Nepal's seven provinces.[8]
Indigenous youth are the bridge between past (ancestors) and future generations. If the youth do not obtain knowledge from their elders then it will end with the end of the elders. The bridge is rupturing due to several factors. This issue has been raised in an internationally awarded feature film “A Road to A Village”, premiered in Nepal on 7 June 2024[9] by director Nabin Subba, a member of the Indigenous Yakthung (Limbu) nation. It “tells the story of a family whose life is fundamentally changed after a road finally connects their village to the nearby town”[10] and raises the question of how to stop cultural genocide.[11]
Indigenous Peoples of Nepal traditionally have no category of youth as they are children until their initiation rites, and then adults, elders, and finally ancestors. However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports considers youth as those in the age group 16-40 years.[12],[13] The “Three Year Interim Plan” of Nepal[14] considers youth as being 15 to 29 years of age.[15] The Nepal government’s treatment of youth as a homogenous category ignores its intersectionality. A member of the Election Observation Committee of Nepal writes that all the top leaders of the main political parties are in their 70s and: “In all these political parties, the second-rung leaders who claim to be youths are also more than 50 years old....”[16] Practically, the issue of who belongs to the category of youth depends on law, practice, custom, tradition, politics, biology, society, culture, region, and time. Separating early youth (15 to 24) from late youth (25 to 40) as done in a study on the Status of Youth in Nepal carried out by the International Year of the Youth Committee, would be useful.[17]
Indigenous youth fighting for justice and rights
Despite the challenges, Indigenous youth are trying to respond to historical injustices and defend individual and collective rights in various ways. They are organizing, leading the ground struggles of their communities, raising their voices in creative ways and artforms, and engaging in policy and advocacy work from the community to the national arena. Indigenous youth are also organized in several other platforms, including the YFIN, a member of the Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP), based on their interests and other intersections.[18] Sabba Rani Maharjan, a YFIN leader, says, “As Indigenous youth, we are the frontline advocates for our lands and cultures. It’s time that resources flow directly to us, so we can lead the way in protecting our futures, without being filtered through intermediaries. We know our needs, and we should be the ones making the decisions.”[19]
Indigenous youth are fighting against violations and abuses of Indigenous Peoples’ rights by the government and business companies from community to national level. Indigenous Rights activist Niaranti Tumbapo is an exemplary Yakthung (Limbu) youth leader who is one of Nepal’s 50 Influential Women of 2024, selected and declared by the Onlinekhabar.com on 8 March 2024. She is an inspiring leader of the “No Cable Car” at Mukumglung and “No Koshi”[20] movements. The Onlinekhabar.com writes, “Tumbapo was seen at the forefront of this identity movement that went on in the province for a year. She has proved herself to be a rebel and is a great orator. Currently, she is deeply committed to ensuring the success of the identity movement that has gained momentum in rural areas.”[21]
Indigenous youth are using artforms to campaign for their rights and make their struggles visible to a wider audience. Young Tamang poets staged a powerful play entitled ‘Masinya’,[22] focusing on the contamination of the egalitarian Tamang culture by systemic State-led colonization, injustice, humiliation, land grabbing, forced eviction, labor exploitation, and criminalization of the consumption of beef.[23], [24] The Rising Nepal reported that distinguished figures including politicians watched the play, and a senior leader of a political party “urged the younger generation to comprehend this pain and emphasized the need to combat such injustices.”[25]
In his Identity (Recognition) Award of 2024-winning poetry collection entitled 'Oh Pengdorje',[26] awarded by the Recognition Award Fund, young Indigenous poet Raju Syangtan focuses on the Tamang Indigenous Peoples living their own distinct collective way of life before, and the massive exploitation after, the expansion of Gorkha state,[27] at the cost of blood for their identity.[28]
The Kathmandu-based platform for photography and archiving “photo.circle” exhibited art, photos, and videos of young artists searching for their roots in the exhibition “Who does the river belong to?”[29] These artists’ struggles include a Tamang youth discovering Nhimba identity, and a Thakali [TaMhang] youth searching for her ancestors. “These storytellers,” according to the photo.circle, “invite us to rethink the story of progress, how we have come to embody it as individuals, communities, and nation-states, and how it has singularly led to the plunder of our rivers, our forests, and our lands.”[30]
Land rights issues of Indigenous Peoples
2024 saw a do-or-die resistance movement committed to stopping further land grabbing and fighting for the return of stolen lands, including the reinstatement of the land’s original Indigenous names.[31] Yet Indigenous Peoples continued to face land grabbing and land rights violations in 2024 – whether due to “development” aggression, business greed, or fortress model-led conservation efforts.
On 13 May, workers of the Pathibhara Devi Darshan Cable Car Pvt. Ltd.[32] felled 12,000 trees at night in a forest in Mukumlung, known as “Pathibhara”, but the Indigenous defenders of Mukumlung chased them away and subsequently planted new trees, declaring a banda (transportation shutdown).[33] A clash between supporters and opponents of the cable car project during the inauguration of its construction on 8 November injured two people supporting the construction, and two people, including Chandra Maden, who were assisting pilgrims to reach the Pathibhara [Mukumlung] area, and who opposed the construction.[34]
Indigenous rights were violated by a hydropower project[35] in Chhunjam River in Sankhuwasabha. The report states, “The list of alleged crimes and lies is long: accusations of forging local signatures, signing children’s names on contracts, creating false reports, bulldozing through farmlands under the cover of night and trapping sacred animals.” The victims – Bhote/Singsa/Lhomi Indigenous Peoples – are hoping that the court will order a halt to the ongoing activities in their legal battle and give justice.
The government has drafted Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Nepal. The proposed 57 OECM areas include Menchhayem, known as “Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale”, with a land area of 45,063 ha, Chepang Landscape with 13,479 ha., and Limi Valley with 119,943 ha.[36] OECMs are claimed as geographically-defined areas for biodiversity conservation and management.[37] However, these new proposed areas were prepared without consulting or obtaining the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the Indigenous Peoples who fear that it is another ploy, like national parks, to grab their remaining lands.
On 14 May 2024, UN experts, including Mr. Robert McCorquodale (Chairperson) of the Open-ended working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights,[38] expressed concern over reports of ongoing retaliations against human rights defenders because of their opposition to the development of the Chhaya Center retail and entertainment complex in Nepal. The experts deplored the violations of international human rights norms. Responding to a complaint[39] by two anonymous Nepalese organizations concerning violations of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct by running the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) Global at the Chhaya Center, the Government of Switzerland instructed its relocation.[40] The case remains active at the full bench of the Supreme Court of Nepal.
In Nepal, the labor migration of Indigenous Peoples, including Indigenous Women, especially youth, has been triggered by forcible evictions or displacements from ancestral lands due to systematic land grabbing by the state, development aggression, and the criminalization of customary livelihood practices. According to the Report on Final Approved List Country Wise from 17 July 2023 to 15 July 2024, as Indigenous youth and adults have migrated to 149 countries around the world, the villages have been emptying of their youth.[41]
The Land Related Problem Resolution Commission, renamed and formed as the National Land Commission (NLD), was dissolved twice in the year: once in March and the other in October. By the time of its dissolution, 4,586 families out of a total of 1,077,446 applicants had received land registration certificates.[42]
The government has drafted an implementation plan for the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (BHR) but it has yet to be endorsed.[43]
Misrepresentation of Indigenous identity
The film Shambhala, directed by Nepali director, Min Bahadur Bham, is “Nepal’s Official Oscar Entry for the 97th Academy Awards” of 2024.[44] Jordan Mintzer writes, “The film does have something to say about patriarchal Nepalese culture, in which women like Pema are obliged to defend their virtue against accusations by their husbands. … another woman accused of adultery is forced to shoot an arrow at a bullseye in order to prove her innocence. It’s an impossible feat, and we learn later on that she committed suicide.”[45] In this context, journalist Anita Bhetwal asked the director, “Tests given by Pema in Shambhala look like Sita giving a trial by fire[46] in the [Hindu epic] Ramayan. Is there a tradition in the Himalayas giving loyalty tests to wives like the one in the Ramayan? Is it an imagination of the writer or real religious and social life stories that exist in the Himalayan region?[47],[48] Bham replied, “In fact, you have given me a chance to clarify by asking me this question. I did not make a documentary, it is fiction….” (author’s translation and emphasis). He clarified, “Talking about a scene of shooting an arrow as a trial by fire. This tradition exists nowhere in the Himalayas. As far as shooting arrows in the Himalayas is concerned, only males shoot arrows, that too to determine an auspicious or inauspicious time. After knowing this, I showed it in the story after I thought, in a society where women are not allowed to shoot arrows, what could be its purpose if they are allowed. Suicide shown in the film also may not happen in the Himalayan [community]...” (author’s emphasis).
The time has come to stop such cultural misunderstandings, which may have damaging effects on the Indigenous Peoples in question. The Indigenous Peoples’ Community Protocol should be developed and applied, following Terri Janke’s “Pathways & Protocols filmmaker’s guide to working with Indigenous people[s], culture and concepts”.[49] This gives Indigenous film-making clear dos and don’ts and mandatory FPIC mechanisms of meaningful application.
Political developments
Political developments in Nepal in 2024 followed a trend of business as usual. In other words, characterized by corruption, abuse of power and authority, power struggles, political instability, domination by the dominant Hindu caste group, and increasing protest against colonization, including land grabbing and the suppression of Indigenous Peoples and their rights.
In a high-profile by-election in constituency no. 3 in Ilam for a seat in the federal parliament that fell vacant on the death of the elected representative, Subhas Chandra Nembang, Speaker of the House of Representatives, an independent Indigenous candidate supported by identity-based politics in province number 1, finished third with 11,457 votes, and is now reckoned as one of the political forces in the province.[50],[51]
On 6 May 2024, the Bagmati Province Government, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Cooperatives, Nepal Tamang Ghedung, Federal Working Committee and Newa Dey Daboo, Central Committee jointly launched the Provincial Government Official Language Act, 2080 BS, which recognizes the Tamang and Newa languages as other official languages of the province.[52]
The rising tide of the “No Koshi” movement[53] led to a dialogue resulting in a seven-point agreement between the dialogue teams of the No Koshi movement and the Government of Province Number 1 following a press conference by the Province 1 Renaming Joint Struggle Committee on 12 December to re-intensify the movement. These are: (i) national consensus government, (ii) “Constitutional review and amendments: The new government will assess the Constitution's performance, address its weaknesses, and make necessary amendments for political stability”, (iii) economic revival, (iv) leadership transition, (v) governance framework, (vi) equal participation, and (vii) provincial and local development.[54] In September, the parties in the ruling coalition agreed to hold extensive discussions with regard to making amendments to the constitution in line with the seven-point agreement.[55] It has yet to be seen whether they amend the constitution as recommended by CEDAW in 2018.[56]
Climate injustice
“At International Court of Justice, Nepal demands climate justice”, reported The Kathmandu Post.[57] In a similar vein, Indigenous youth are demanding climate justice from the Government of Nepal. Carbon trading money of Rs1.6 billion “received from the World Bank would not go directly to the community as it goes to various government bodies with a risk of its reduction in the form of administrative expenses.”[58] Given Nepal’s 108th position out of 180 countries in terms of corruption,[59] the rulers of the dominant caste may be desperately eyeing up climate funds.
On a positive note, the Minister for Forest and Environment of the Nepal government has proposed that Parliament ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.[60], [61]
CEDAW shadow reports
A consortium of Indigenous Women’s Organizations submitted a Shadow Report on Seventh Periodic Report of Nepal to CEDAW for the 89th (PSWG) Pre-Sessional Working Group[62] and another[63] for the 90th Session, the first on 1 January 2024 and the second on 31 December 2024. The National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) also submitted a statement (E/CN.6/2025/NGO/XX) on 24 December 2024 to the Commission on the Status of Women for its 69th session as a Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Formal recognition of Humlo Indigenous Peoples
Nepal’s government formally recognized Humlo Indigenous Nationalities on 11 July 2024, as per the recommendation made by the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN).[64]
Krishna B. Bhattachan belongs to the TaMhang (Thakali) Indigenous Peoples. He is one of the founding faculty members and former Head, now retired, of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He is associated with the Lawyers' Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) as an adviser and Indigenous expert. He has published several books and articles on Indigenous issues. His recent publication, Customary Self-Government Systems of the TaMhang (Thakali) Nation, was published in 2023 by the AIPP. He has been contributing articles on Nepal in The Indigenous World since its 2011 edition. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This article is part of the 39th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. The photo above is of an Indigenous activist Funa-ay Claver, a Bontok Igorot, standing alongside Indigenous youth activists and others. They are protesting against the repressive laws and human rights violations suffered through the actions and projects of the Government of the Philippines and other actors against Indigenous Peoples at President Marcos Jr’s national address on 22 July 2024 in Quezon City, Philippines. The photo was taken by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas and is the cover of The Indigenous World 2025 where this article is featured. Find The Indigenous World 2025 in full here
Notes and references
[1] The first Civil Code of Nepal of 1854 placed Indigenous Peoples third in the four-graded caste hierarchy as Matwali (liquor drinking caste) and further divided into Namasinya (not enslaveable) and Masinya (enslaveable). Tamang, Gharti, Tharu and a few other Indigenous Peoples were legally permitted to buy and sell as slaves.
[2] Dhakal, Renuka. "Masinya: Story of Injustice Meted Out Against Tamang." The Rising Nepal, 9 February 2024. https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/38706-
[3] Sangroula, Prasun. "Masinya: Of Tamang, by Tamang for Everyone." OnlineKhabar, 7 February 2024. https://english.onlinekhabar.com/masinya-tamang-community-nepal-play.html.
[4] Mundhum is an ancient oral sacred religious scripture, a philosophy, and a socio-cultural and environmental guide to Yakthung’s (Limbu) collective ways of life. It is an Indigenism. Khambu (Rai) also have their own Mundhum.
[5] The Hindu colonizers have named it Pathibhara and consider it their sacred site.
[6] “Parties are creating a mechanism to identify issues for constitutional amendment.” OnlineKhabar, 24 December 2024. https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2024/12/1591822/parties-are-creating-a-mechanism-to-identify-issues-for-constitutional-amendment
[7] Intercontinental Youth Forum. Intercontinental Youth Declaration 2024. February 2024. https://nagarikmirror.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Declaration-for-IYF-final.pdf
[8] United Nations Nepal. “Nepal Youth Summit empowers youth voices, calls for national and global actions on key issues facing young people.” 13 August 2024. https://nepal.un.org/en/276438-nepal-youth-summit-empowers-youth-voices-calls-national-and-global-actions-key-issues-facing
[9] The Rising Nepal. “Gaun Aayeko Bato to be released today.” 7 June 2024. https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/44087
[10] Linnarz, Rouven. “Film Review: A Road to a Village (2023) by Nabin Subba.” Asian Movie Pulse, December 2024. https://asianmoviepulse.com/2024/12/film-review-a-road-to-a-village-2023-by-nabin-subba/
[11] My views on the film that raises concerns over how to stop cultural genocide. Text in Khas Nepali.
[12] Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Nepal. “Nepali Youth in Figures December 2014,” pp. 3 and 15. https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Nepali%20Youth%20in%20Figures.pdf
[13] Government of Nepal National Planning Commission, Singhadurbar, Kathmandu. “The Fifteenth Plan (Fiscal Year 2019/20 – 2023/24),” unofficial translation, March 2020, p. 258. https://www.npc.gov.np/images/category/15th_plan_English_Version.pdf
[14] Government of Nepal National Planning Commission Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal. “Three Year Interim Plan (2007/08 – 2009/10),” unofficial translation, December 2007, p. 323. https://www.npc.gov.np/images/category/11tyip_eng.pdf
[15] Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of Nepal, Singh Durbar, Kathmandu. “Youth Vision – 2025 and Ten-Year Strategic Plan,” 6 October 2015. https://moys.gov.np/sites/default/files/nitiheru/Youth%20Vision-2025_2.pdf
[16] Election Observation Committee Nepal. “Political Space for Youths.” https://eocnepal.org.np/blogs/political-space-for-youths
[17] Chaitannya Mishra, Krishna Bhattachan, Jitpal Kirant, Balkrishna Suwal, and Govinda Malla, 1985. Status of Youth in Nepal, Kathmandu: Research Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies, Tribhuvan University.
[18] Organizations include YFIN (https://aippnet.org/asia-indigenous-youth-platform-aiyp/), Forum For Indigenous Girls (FIG) (https://www.facebook.com/indigenousgirlsforum) and National Indigenous Disabled Youth Association-Nepal (NIDYA-Nepal) (http://nidyanepal.org.np/)
[19] Quoted by the Rights and Resources Initiatives on the Facebook page of the Rights and Resource Initiatives posted on 27 November 2024.
[20] Bhattachan, Krishna B.; Mamo, Dwayne (ed.). “The Indigenous World 2024.” IWGIA, April 2024, pp. 259-260.
[21] Online Khabar. “50 trailblazing women shaping Nepal’s future.” 8 March 2024. https://english.onlinekhabar.com/influential-women-nepal.html
[22] Indigenous Peoples who were referred to by the Civil Code of 1854 as Matwali (“Liquor drinking caste”) and were further categorized into Masinya, who could be killed or enslaved for free, and Namisyna who could not be killed or enslaved. Tamang, Tharu and some others were listed as Masinya.
[23] Dhakal, Renuka. “Masinya: Story of injustice meted out against Tamang,” The Rising Nepal, 9 February 2024. https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/38706-
[24] Sangroula, Prasun. “Masinya: Of Tamang, by Tamang for everyone,” Online Khabar, 7 February 2024. https://english.onlinekhabar.com/masinya-tamang-community-nepal-play.html
[25] The Rising Nepal. “Mandala Theatre stages Masinya.” 27 January 2024. https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/38149
[26] Gurung, Ayush. “Writing from the heart.” The Kathmandu Post, 5 June 2023. https://kathmandupost.com/books/2023/06/05/writing-from-the-heart
[27] The territorial integration of Nepal started by King Prithvi Naraya Shah from Gorkha (Gurkha) state, which was seized from the Ghale Indigenous Peoples by his ancestor Drabya Shah in 1559. See: Britannica, “Gurkha” at https://www.britannica.com/place/Gurkha-Nepal
[28] Though his poetic imagination is superb, mixing it with Marxism and class struggle is considered problematic from Indigenous perspectives. See: Ekantipur. “Raju Sangtan's 'O Pengdorje' received recognition award of Rs.4 lakhs,” 13 December 2024 at https://ekantipur.com/en/literature/2024/12/13/4-lakh-recognition-award-for-raju-syangtans-o-pengdorje-24-49.html and Regmi, Bhimnath. “Oh Pengdorje: The Voice of Margin for Liberation.” Research Gate, December 2023 at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377938750_Oh_Pengdorje_The_Voice_of_Margin_for_Liberation
[29] Himal Khabar. “New generation in search of ancestors.” 17 December 2024. https://www.himalkhabar.com/news/143505
[30] Photo Circle. “Who does the river belong to?” December 2024. https://www.photocircle.com.np/exhibitions/who-does-the-river-belong-to/
[31] Bhattachan, Krishna B.; Mamo, Dwayne (ed.). “The Indigenous World 2024.” IWGIA, April 2024, pp. 259-260.
[32] Together with the Himalayan Construction Company (information based on a personal communication with Chandra Maden).
[33] Millington, Alice. “In Nepal, a cable car in a sacred forest sparks swift, and controversial, direct action.” Mongabay, 31 July 2024. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/07/in-nepal-a-cable-car-in-a-sacred-forest-sparks-swift-and-controversial-direct-action/
[34] INSEC online. “Six Injured, Including Two Police Officers, in Clash During Inauguration Pathibhara Cable Car Construction.” 9 November 2024. https://inseconline.org/en/news/six-injured-including-two-police-officers-in-clash-during-inauguration-pathibhara-cable-car-construction/
[35] Hyolmo, Sonam Lama and Abulu, Latoya. “Reporting confirms alleged Indigenous rights violations in Nepal hydropower project.” Mongabay, 12 August 2024. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/08/reporting-confirms-alleged-indigenous-rights-violations-in-nepal-hydropower-project/
[36] Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of Nepal, Singh Durbar, Lathmandu; WWF Nepal; and Global Environment Facility (GEF). “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Nepal.” https://wwfasia.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/oecm-booklet--english-_1_1.pdf
[37] WWF. “A roadmap for establishing OECMs.” 12 April 2023. https://www.wwfnepal.org/?378979/A-roadmap-for-establishing-OECMs
[38] Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Nepal: Retaliations against human rights defenders over business complex ‘deplorable’, say UN experts.” 14 May 2024.https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/05/nepal-retaliations-against-human-rights-defenders-over-business-complex
[39] Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ). “Complaint filed against VFS Global regarding its involvement with Chhaya Center in Kathmandu with the Swiss government.” 30 August 2024. https://cemsoj.net/2024/08/30/complaint-filed-against-vfs-global-regarding-its-involvement-with-chhaya-center-in-kathmandu-with-the-swiss-government/
[40] Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ). “VFS Global decides ‘to relocate from the premises at the Chhaya Center [in Kathmandu] as soon as feasible’.” 23 December 2024. https://cemsoj.net/2024/12/23/vfs-global-decides-to-relocate-from-the-premises-at-the-chhaya-center-in-kathmandu-as-soon-as-feasible/
[41] Text in Khas Nepali translated by the author from https://dofe.gov.np/uploads/document/Document_2024071711480.pdf
[42] Ghimire, Binod. “Making and unmaking of land commissions continues.” The Kathmandu Post, 6 October 2024. https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/10/06/making-and-unmaking-of-land-commissions-continues
[43] Information shared by LAHURNIP.
[44] Thapa, Arpan. “Shambhala: Nepal’s Official Oscar Entry for 97th Academy Awards.” Silicon Herald, 28 September 2024. https://siliconherald.com/shambhala-nepals-official-oscar-entry-for-97th-academy-awards/
[45] Mintzer, Jordan. “‘Shambhala’ Review: Stunningly Crafted Nepalese Drama Takes Too Long to Cast Its Spell.” The Hollywood Reporter, 23 February 2024. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/shambhala-review-1235832648/
[46] It is an ordeal of fire to prove chastity by a wife.
[47] Bhetwal, Anita. “Polygamy is above sex and matriarchy.” Himal Khabar, 15 October 2024.
https://www.himalkhabar.com/news/143040?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2UHKfY4JSVvQx3o-
[48] Himal Khabar. “Polygamy is above sex and matriarchy.” YouTube, 15 October 2024. https://youtu.be/jy1E4xHMNcE
[49] Janke, Terri. “Pathways and Protocols. A filmmaker’s guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts.” April 2009. https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/16e5ade3-bbca-4db2-a433-94bcd4c45434/Pathways-and-Protocols.pdf
[50] The Kathmandu Post. “Suhang Nembang of CPN-UML emerges victorious in Ilam-2.” 30 April 2024. https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-1/2024/04/30/suhang-nembang-of-cpn-uml-emerges-victorious-in-ilam-2
[51] Bhattachan, Krishna B.; Mamo, Dwayne (ed.). “The Indigenous World 2024.” IWGIA, April 2023, pp. 266-267.
[52] Darsandhari, Dipesh. “Tamang and Nepal Bhasa languages officially recognized in Bagmati Province (In Pictures).” My Republica, 6 May 2024. https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/tamang-and-nepal-bhasa-languages-officially-recognized-in-bagmati-province-in-pictures
[53] Bhattachan, Krishna B.; Mamo, Dwayne (ed.). “The Indigenous World 2024.” IWGIA, April 2024, pp. 259-260.
[54] My Republica. “PM Oli unveils seven-point agreement between NC and UML.” 21 July 2024. https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/pm-oli-unveils-seven-point-agreement-between-nc-and-uml
[55] The Kathmandu Post. “Ruling parties discuss constitutional amendment.” 9 September 2024. https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/09/09/ruling-parties-discuss-constitutional-amendment
[56] Bhattachan, Krishna B.; Berger, David N. (ed.). “The Indigenous World 2024.” IWGIA, April 2019, p. 371.
[57] The Kathmandu Post. “At International Court of Justice, Nepal demands climate justice.” 11 December 2024.
https://kathmandupost.com/climate-environment/2024/12/11/at-international-court-of-justice-nepal-demands-climate-justice
[58] Joshi, Abhay Raj. “The very communities that protect forests risk being deprived of the benefits of carbon trading.” 11 December 2024. https://www.himalkhabar.com/news/143578
[59] The Kathmandu Post. “Nepal ranks 108th in Corruption Perceptions Index.” 30 January 2024. https://kathmandupost.com/national/2024/01/30/nepal-ranks-108th-in-corruption-perceptions-index#:~:text=Nepal%20has%20been%20ranked%20in,in%20the%20Corruption%20Perceptions%20Index.
[60] Online Khabar. “MPs suggestion to the president expose the impact of COP29 on the Himalayan region.” 22 November 2024. https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2024/11/1563266/mps-suggestion-to-the-president-expose-the-impact-of-cop-29-on-the-himalayan-region
[61] Acharya, Chandni. “A well-mannered Tharu woman runs the village.” The Rising Nepal. 24 November 2024. https://gorkhapatraonline.com/news/133930
[62] Situation of the Rights of Indigenous Women and Indigenous Women with Disabilities In Nepal
Shadow Report for the Seventh periodic report submitted by Nepal under article 18 of the Convention, due in 2022 CEDAW/c/NPL/7. Submitted for CEDAW - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 89 (PSWG) Pre-Sessional Working Group (19 Feb 2024 - 23 Feb 2024). https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2FCEDAW%2FICO%2FNPL%2F56971&Lang=en
[63] Situation of the Rights of Indigenous Women and Indigenous Women with Disabilities In Nepal
Shadow Report for the Seventh periodic report submitted by Nepal under article 18 of the Convention, due in 2022 CEDAW/c/NPL/7. Submitted for CEDAW - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
90th Session confirmed Session (03 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025). 31 December 2024. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2FCEDAW%2FCSS%2FNPL%2F61755&Lang=en
[64] Sunuar, Dev Kumar. “Nepal Officially Recognizes Humlo Peoples as an Indigenous Nationality.” Cultural Survival, 12 July 2024. https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/nepal-officially-recognizes-humlo-peoples-indigenous-nationality
Tags: Land rights, Youth, Human rights, Cultural Integrity
