Outcome sharing meeting on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
2026-05-04
On 5 April 2026, National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), in collaboration with its UPR consortium partners Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG) and National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN), organized a UPR outcome-sharing meeting for its board and staff at Indreni Suites Hotel. The session was facilitated by Ms. Arzoo from INWOLAG and featured a comprehensive presentation by Prof. Hom Yamphu, who also contributed to the drafting and submission of the UPR report.
The presentation and subsequent discussion provided an in-depth overview of the key outcomes of the 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR), with a particular focus on issues affecting Indigenous Women, access to justice, and disability rights. Participants highlighted critical concerns including land rights, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), inheritance rights, and digital safety and security.
The discussion also underscored persistent systemic gaps within Nepal’s law-making processes, noting that they remain largely non-transparent, non-inclusive, and disconnected from the lived realities of Indigenous Communities, with minimal representation of Indigenous voices at the policy formulation stage. The importance of addressing intersectionality within Women’s rights discourse was strongly emphasized.
Furthermore, the meeting stressed the strategic importance for Indigenous organizations such as NIWF, INWOLAG, and NIDWAN to actively engage with the UPR process as a key accountability mechanism. This includes critically monitoring state commitments, questioning government reports, and ensuring that international obligations are translated into meaningful and tangible changes at the community level.
Overall, the meeting served as a significant platform for reflection, learning, and strategic planning, reaffirming the value of the UPR as an advocacy tool for amplifying Indigenous voices and advancing inclusive, rights-based policies in Nepal.
