UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Nicolas Levrat on Friday urged Nepal to effectively implement constitutional and legislative safeguards to end discrimination against minorities, especially singling out Dalits. Speaking in Kathmandu, Levrat acknowledged Nepal’s progressive legal framework but warned that persistent failures in enforcement, accountability and institutional inclusion continue to deny Dalits and other minorities the full enjoyment of their human rights.
Levrat highlighted that the Constitution of Nepal (2015) provides robust protections against discrimination and for equality. Article 18 guarantees the right to equality and prohibits discrimination on grounds including caste, religion, language, origin, and social status, while Article 40 recognizes Dalit rights for the first time in Nepal’s history. The Constitution further guarantees proportional representation and social justice under Article 42. Despite these provisions, Levrat stressed that discrimination against Dalits and ethnic minorities remains widespread, stating that Nepal “must close the gap between clear legal provisions and their meaningful implementation.” He emphasized that constitutional recognition has not translated into effective protection on the ground.
The Special Rapporteur expressed serious concern over the continued prevalence of caste-based discrimination despite the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act (2011). Records from the Office of the Attorney General show that in 2024, 52 caste-based discrimination cases were filed in district courts, resulting in 15 convictions and 12 acquittals, while only 10 of the 42 cases filed in high courts ended in convictions. Levrat warned that a rate of 63 percent of cases involving violence against Dalits resulted in acquittals in 2024, fueling a culture of impunity.
For the fiscal year 2024–2025, only 31.5 percent of the recommendations issued by the National Human Rights Commission were considered by the government, with just 13.4 percent fully implemented. Levrat described this level of compliance as alarming. Levrat also expressed concern that Nepal’s constitutional commissions for marginalized groups, including the Dalit Commission, Inclusion Commission, Muslim Commission, Tharu Commission, Indigenous Nationalities Commission, and Madhesi Commission, remain ineffective due to inadequate funding, lack of provincial offices, and minimal government response to their recommendations.
Levrat expressed concern over restrictions on freedom of religion in Nepal, citing selective enforcement of anti-conversion laws like the National Penal Code that enable discrimination against Christians and Muslims. He also noted that linguistic minorities face barriers to justice, as police complaints cannot be filed in languages other than Nepali, disproportionately affecting women from minority communities.
Nepal is a party to several core UN human rights treaties and has been praised for its progressive constitutional framework following the adoption of the 2015 Constitution. However, efforts to promote inclusion and equality continue, even as challenges such as caste-based discrimination, religious exclusion, and socio-economic marginalization persist.
Levrat’s visit took place amid political instability following nationwide protests in September 2025 and the formation of an interim government. The Special Rapporteur’s full report containing detailed findings and recommendations will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026.
