UN Expert Urges Nepal to Turn Minority Rights Laws into Real Protection

Levrat expressed deep concern over the high levels of impunity for crimes committed against Dalits, particularly violence linked to inter-caste marriages, which continues despite legal prohibitions.

Nepal must urgently bridge the gap between its strong constitutional and legislative commitments and their effective implementation to end discrimination against minorities, including Dalits, a United Nations human rights expert has warned.

Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, issued the call at the conclusion of his official visit to Nepal, stressing that legal protections alone are not enough unless they translate into real improvements in people’s daily lives.

“Minorities’ and Dalits’ unhindered access to education is the gateway to building skills and confidence, and breaking cycles of poverty that have long prevented them from fully enjoying their rights and contributing meaningfully to society,” Levrat said.

While Nepal’s Constitution formally prohibits discrimination and promotes inclusion, the Special Rapporteur noted that structural barriers, social stigma, and weak enforcement continue to deny minorities equal access to education, employment, justice, and political participation.

Levrat urged the international donor community to provide more effective support to Nepal by backing programmes that are designed with, and for, minorities and Dalits, rather than imposed from outside. He emphasised the importance of working closely with local governments, which are often best placed to deliver practical support within communities.

“In this period of political transition, it is time to rebuild trust in the Nepalese social contract,” he said. “Minorities and Dalits must trust State institutions to protect them, and society as a whole must recognise that their contributions enrich and uplift the nation.”

He added that empowerment also requires confidence within affected communities themselves. “Minorities and Dalits must have trust in themselves to advocate for and realise their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.”

The Special Rapporteur also highlighted the need for greater representation and inclusion within State institutions. He said public bodies must better reflect Nepal’s social diversity, not only in their staffing but also in leadership positions.

“Minorities must be able to recognise themselves in those exercising power,” Levrat said. “They must feel heard and understood by public servants — including teachers, judges, and police — in their mother tongue.”

Levrat expressed deep concern over the high levels of impunity for crimes committed against Dalits, particularly violence linked to inter-caste marriages, which continues despite legal prohibitions.

“Access to justice must include effective enforcement mechanisms and real sanctions for perpetrators,” he said. “This is essential to dismantling caste-based discrimination and the culture of impunity that sustains it.”

He also warned about restrictions on freedom of religion, citing the selective use of Nepal’s anti-conversion provisions, which he said have led to discrimination and harassment of religious minorities, including Muslims and Christians.

At the same time, the Special Rapporteur welcomed positive legislative developments, including the draft of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law aimed at protecting ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities. He noted that the draft recognises intersectional discrimination, covering groups such as Dalit women, the Badi and Tharu communities, Madhesis, religious minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Levrat said the proposed legislation represents an important opportunity for Nepal to strengthen its human rights framework, provided it is accompanied by effective implementation, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms.

The Special Rapporteur will present a full report on his findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026, where Nepal’s progress on minority rights and anti-discrimination measures will be reviewed.