Levrat calls for donor support in empowering minorities

Kathmandu, Dec. 12

Nepal must close the gap between clear constitutional and legislative provisions and their meaningful implementation to effectively prohibit discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, including Dalits, a United Nations expert said on Friday.

"Minorities' and Dalits' unhindered access to education is the gateway to building skills and confidence, and breaking through cycles of poverty that have prevented them from realising the full enjoyment of their rights and their meaningful contribution to society as a whole," said Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, in a statement at the end of his visit to Nepal.

Speaking at an interaction with journalists, Levrat urged the donor community to efficiently support Nepal in designing and implementing empowering programmes conceived with and for the benefit of persons belonging to minorities.

Presenting preliminary findings of his assessment of the legislation, status of practice in Nepal, he called for a partnership with local authorities who have the means to deliver effective support to minorities and Dalits in the communities where they reside.

In the last 10 days, Levrat conducted meetings with minority stakeholders, communities, government institutions – including federal and provincial ministries, civil society organisations and various commissions and concluded Nepal has effectively implemented international obligations to the human rights of minorities.

According to him, there are no proper standards to measure the relationship or impact of economic-social empowerment on reducing discrimination and creating an equal society.

"There are no clear standards, we are working on them," he said.

"In this period of political transition, it is time to rebuild trust in the Nepali social contract. Minorities and Dalits must feel that they can trust state institutions to protect them, and Nepalese society as a whole must trust that their contributions enrich and uplift society," said Levrat.

According to him, minorities and Dalits must have trust in themselves to advocate for and realise their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Stating that the situation of Dalits has improved in the last one-and-a-half decades and this is not enough, he underscored the prevalence of intersectional discrimination – women and girls within the minority groups are facing additional discrimination and often are the victims of violence.

He also maintained that the state institutions must better reflect the diversity of Nepali society in their composition and leadership.

"Minorities must be able to recognise themselves in those exercising power. They must feel heard and understood by public servants - including teachers, judges, and the police - in their mother tongue language," he stated. 

The expert expressed profound concern about the high rate of impunity for crimes against Dalits, such as violence linked to inter-caste marriages.

"Access to justice must include well-functioning enforcement mechanisms and sanctions of perpetrators. It will lead to the dismantlement of a system and mindsets that have enabled caste-based violence and discrimination as well as a culture of impunity," said Levrat. 

He warned about the curtailment of religious freedom, through selective use of the anti-conversion provision, leading to discrimination against religious minorities.

He welcomed the draft of a comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation protecting ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, including those affected by forms of intersectional discrimination such as Dalit women, the Badi community, the Tharu community, minorities belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, minorities with disabilities, Madhesis, Muslims and Christians, the UN Human Rights said in a news release.

The Special Rapporteur will present a full report to the Human Rights Council in March 2026.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 December 2025.