Nepal Criticized for Failing to Fulfill Human Rights Commitments Ahead of 2026 UN Review
Nepal’s progress in implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has been deeply unsatisfactory, according to a new report submitted by a consortium of civil society organizations. The report, presented to the UNHRC by the Nepal National Coalition for UPR, the National Women’s Coalition for UPR, and the Durban Review Conference Follow-up Committee Nepal—representing 530 NGOs—reveals that most of the 196 recommendations Nepal agreed to implement during the third UPR cycle in January 2022 remain either unfulfilled or only partially executed.
Since that UPR cycle, Nepal has undergone four changes in government, led by each of the country’s three major political parties. Yet, none of the administrations have taken substantial steps toward fulfilling the human rights promises made before the international community. The thematic areas where implementation is particularly poor include child rights, gender-based violence, national human rights institutions, and equity and non-discrimination. This lack of follow-through has raised serious concerns among human rights advocates, who fear both a deterioration in domestic rights protections and potential repercussions from international donors.
The situation is especially alarming in the area of child rights. Nepal had accepted all 10 UPR recommendations related to children, but the report finds that none of them have been fully implemented. Around 60 percent were partially addressed, while the remaining 40 percent were ignored altogether. Similarly, Nepal’s track record on tackling sexual and gender-based violence is no better. The country had agreed to strengthen safe shelters and crisis centers for victims of gender-based violence, but these measures have either been inadequately funded or not implemented at all. According to the report, 61 percent of these recommendations were partially implemented and 39 percent not implemented at all.
National human rights institutions also remain weak despite Nepal’s commitment to fully implement all four relevant UPR recommendations. Only one has been fully realized. Meanwhile, in the domain of equity and non-discrimination, Nepal accepted 14 out of 18 recommendations, yet none have seen full implementation. About 80 percent have only been partially acted upon, while 20 percent were left completely unaddressed. This widespread lack of action, according to the report, stems from political apathy, bureaucratic inefficiency, and a failure to allocate necessary budgets and institutional resources.
Human rights experts say this failure to honor international commitments could damage Nepal’s reputation and jeopardize vital foreign assistance. Mohna Ansari, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission, noted that this lack of accountability is not only embarrassing but also potentially harmful. “Many countries are funding Nepal on human rights and rule of law. Non-commitment to the UPR recommendations might lead them to review their funding,” she warned.
To address these shortcomings, the report recommends a set of urgent and practical measures. These include ensuring that human rights protections are implemented in line with Nepal’s international obligations, the rulings of the Supreme Court, and existing constitutional provisions. The government is urged to allocate sufficient financial and logistical support to human rights mechanisms and to enhance international cooperation in areas where domestic capacity is insufficient. Moreover, the report calls for the ratification of several pending international treaties and conventions, such as the Convention against Enforced Disappearances, the Migrant Workers Convention, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, ILO Convention 189, and various optional protocols under the ICESCR, CAT, and CRC.
Civil society groups also recommend that the government include affected communities in the planning and implementation of human rights programs, emphasizing a participatory approach. As Nepal prepares for its next UPR in January 2026, the pressure is mounting on its leadership to demonstrate genuine political will and take concrete steps toward fulfilling its human rights commitments. Without urgent action, the country risks falling further behind on global human rights benchmarks and losing the trust of both its citizens and the international community.
