FM Khanal calls for strong actions to eliminate racism, xenophobia

Nepali delegation departs for Kathmandu from New York

 

Kathmandu, Sept. 29

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal called for stronger action to eliminate racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia and systemic injustice.

Addressing a high-level meeting held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to mark the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, he urged the international community to take more effective measures to end all forms of discrimination, and systemic injustice.

"Discrimination and exclusion continued to hinder the development of human potential," said FM Khanal, while noting that alongside technological advances, prejudice was increasingly manifesting itself in the digital sphere and in the form of ‘algorithmic bias’ in artificial intelligence (AI).

According to him, such prejudice and exclusion continue to limit human potential.

Stating that the principles of the Durban Declaration were deeply linked to Nepal’s national consciousness and constitutional values, Khanal said the government was committed to social justice and equality. He said political-level initiatives were necessary to address the historical and institutional discrimination faced by Nepal’s Dalit community.

He informed that Nepal was a party to seven major international human rights conventions, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

For effective implementation of the Durban Programme of Action, FM Khanal outlined four priorities - enforcing strong anti-discrimination laws and expanding human rights education from the school level, ensuring the meaningful participation of historically marginalised communities in public policymaking, controlling racial bias and hate speech through regulation of AI, and strengthening international cooperation to end systemic intolerance.

Meanwhile, FM Khanal met Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, he expressed Nepal’s commitment to providing full cooperation and support during Rahman’s tenure.

They exchanged views on the impacts and damage caused by the recent devastating climate-related disaster in Nepal, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Likewise, the Foreign Minister also held a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath.

The two ministers stressed the need to convene meetings of existing bilateral mechanisms and expressed their commitment to further expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, tourism, education, culture, connectivity and people-to-people relations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khanal departed New York for Kathmandu on Tuesday after participating in the UNGA. He departed with his delegation from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for Kathmandu via Qatar.

Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s Consul General in New York Dadhiram Bhandari, and officials of the Nepali mission saw the Foreign Minister off at the airport.

Minister Khanal is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning.

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 30 September 2026.