INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, December 21
Though the Government of Nepal and the Foundation for Upliftment of Adibasi/Janajati conducted research on the issues
facing indigenous communities, indigenous communities are yet to get their rights, said a report of the National Human Rights
Commission.
Following the International Labour Organisation convention on indigenous communities, Nepal defined indigenous nationalities in
its legislation, National Foundation for Upliftment of Indigenous Nationalities Act-2002
Some efforts were made by the state to protect the rights of indigenous nationalities by enacting the law and the constitution also has
provisions related to indigenous nationalities.
&Indigenous nationalities have been included in right to equality and right to social
justice under the fundamental rights of the constitution
Since the identity issue is linked with right to social justice, it seems imperative that the government effectively ensured and implemented
the inclusion of indigenous nationalities in state organs based on proportional inclusive principle,& read ILO Convention Implementation
Status Report-2019, published by the NHRC.
As the act recognised distinct identity of indigenous nationalities, the government published the
list of minorities for the purpose of local elections and the National Assembly elections
As per census report-2011, 59 indigenous nationalities have been put under the minority list except the Dalit population.
There are several
challenges to exercise equal political, economic, social and cultural rights by indigenous communities
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has recommended to accord recognition to the indigenous nationalities, who are
not identified in its 95th session, the report said
&But as things stand, some indigenous nationalities are yet to be listed,& it added.
The Nepal government ratified ILO Convention no 169 on
After the ratification, a study was carried out regarding the obligation entailed by the convention
The study identified the actions to be taken by the state and its obligations towards indigenous communities
An expert committee was formed comprising joint-secretary of the then Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration as coordinator
and member-secretary of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities as deputy coordinator, among others for the same.
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