Indigenous women of Nepal face multiple forms of discrimination. Indigenous women, being indigenous peoples, face racial, linguistic, religious, cultural, economic, political discrimination and exclusion. Also, indigenous women, being women, face gender discrimination. Thus, indigenous women are victimized by ideologies, policies and practices of Bahunbad (Brahmanism) and patriarchy.
Empowerment and strengthening of indigenous women is a must to end all forms of racial and gender discrimination, exploitation, suppression and oppression against indigenous women. Acceptance of multi-caste and ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural reality of Nepali society by the people’s movement of 1990 has indeed paved a way for non-governmental organizations to contribute for empowerment and strengthening of indigenous peoples, women and other excluded groups and communities. There was growing realization for a need of organized efforts by indigenous women to make development programs for women and indigenous peoples successful, to organize and empower indigenous women from local to national levels on common issues of women, and to work for equity and equality by having common objectives on women’s common issues. It was in this backdrop that the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) was founded in 1998.
There are not only common problems and issues of indigenous women and other women and also of indigenous women and indigenous men but also distinct problems and issues that are unique to indigenous women. Therefore, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) was established to support and raise awareness of indigenous women, to intensify advocacy for securing rights of indigenous women and indigenous children, and to run programs with focus on advocacy, training, discussion, interaction, study, and research as needed.
In celebration of World Environment Day 2025, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) successfully organized a community-level event in Bishambhara, Shankharapur Municipality, Kathmandu under the global theme "Beat Plastic Pollution." The objective of the program was to raise awareness about environmental protection and highlight the importance of reducing plastic pollution, especially in rural and Indigenous communities. The event engaged 27 Tamang women farmers from the local Bishambhara Tamang Women Farmers' Group, promoting their role as stewards of sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation. As part of the celebration, Bodhi seed malas (Buddha chitta) were distributed to all participating women, symbolizing peace, awareness, and a spiritual connection to nature. This activity was supported through funding from Mama Cash.
The program was graced by the presence of Ms. Suni Lama, Chairperson of NIWF, Ms. Sushila Maya Gole, Treasurer, Ms. Puja Shrestha, Team Leader, Ms. Anju Gurung, Program Officer, Ms. Sanila Lama, Field Coordinator, Ms. Kavita Magar, Intern, as well as Ms. Junta Tamang, Chairperson of the Bishambhara Tamang Women’s Group, and other members of the group.
On 22 May 2025, National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) celebrated World Biodiversity Day under the global theme, “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.” The event brought together government representatives, development partners, Indigenous leaders, and civil society actors to reaffirm the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The program was facilitated by Mr. Kamal Kumar Rai, Indigenous rights activist and environmental advocate, who guided the discussions around the intersections of Indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and policy. The event was graced by Hon. Rupa B.K., State Minister for Forests and Environment, as the Chief Guest. In her remarks, Hon. B.K. acknowledged the historical and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities in preserving biodiversity and committed to ensuring the inclusion of Indigenous voices in Nepal’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
Special guests at the event included: Dr. K.C. Paudel, Team Leader of NBSAP, Mr. Rajendra Dhungana, Under Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Mr. Raghu Ram Parajuli, Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Plant Resources, Mr. Bijaya Singh, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, Mr. Divas Rai, General Secretary, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Ms. Seema Khan, Chairperson, Nepal Muslim Women Welfare Society, Mr. Amrit Sunuwar, Chairperson, Sunuwar Samaj, Mr. Fulman Bal, General Manager, Nepal Television.
Each speaker shared valuable insights on the importance of World Biodiversity Day and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting inclusive, rights-based, and ecologically balanced development. They highlighted the urgent need to protect Indigenous knowledge systems, land rights, and traditional practices as essential components of biodiversity conservation. The program concluded with closing remarks by Ms. Suni Lama, Chairperson of NIWF, who expressed gratitude to all participants and reaffirmed NIWF’s commitment to advocating for the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in national and global environmental policies.
National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), with the support of MADRE, distributed educational materials including school uniforms, shoes, bags, stationery, and rice to three Indigenous girl students at Bishambhara, Ward No. 5 of Shankharapur Municipality, Kathmandu. Ms. Suni Lama, Chairperson of NIWF, handed over the materials to the recipients under the Indigenous Girls Opportunity Fund (IGOF).
National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) with the support of MADRE, provided educational scholarships to two Thami girls from Kalinchok Rural Municipality, Dolakha. The support included school uniforms, shoes, school bags, notebooks, pens, and pencils. The scholarship recipients, currently studying in Grades 4 and 8, received the materials during a distribution event held on Wednesday in Sundrawati, Ward No. 9.
The scholarship is part of the Indigenous Girls Opportunity Fund (IGOF), which was established in 2023. Since its inception, the Fund has been awarding annual scholarships to diligent and economically marginalized Indigenous students through NIWF. In addition to the educational supplies, the scholarship also covered the full tuition fees for the academic year for both students ensuring they can continue their education without financial barriers.
On 13th May 2025, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) organized a meeting titled “Challenges Faced by Indigenous Women and Girls in Nepal and Bangladesh Due to Climate Change” in Ward No. 6 of Bhumlu Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk. This meeting served as a cross-border exchange of experiences, perspectives, and strategies between Indigenous women leaders from Nepal and Bangladesh, with a focus on how climate change disproportionately affects Indigenous communities especially women and girls. The program brought together the Indigenous women’s group from NIWF’s Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal (CLAN) project, two youth volunteers from Bangladesh, the team from the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC), and NIWF staff. The diverse representation at the meeting allowed for an engaging and reflective dialogue on shared challenges, grassroots resilience, and the urgency of strengthening climate leadership among Indigenous women and girls.
The Chairperson of Bhumlu Rural Municipality also joined the session and delivered remarks underlining the vital role of Indigenous communities in climate action. He emphasized the importance of supporting community-led initiatives and empowering Indigenous women to take leadership roles in climate adaptation and decision-making. He also acknowledged NIWF’s efforts in strengthening local capacities and expressed the municipality’s willingness to collaborate more closely on such inclusive and transformative projects. The meeting fostered mutual learning and solidarity between the participants, affirming that although the specific geographic and cultural contexts may differ, the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous women due to climate change are strikingly similar. Participants agreed on the need for continued cross-border dialogue, greater investment in Indigenous-led solutions, and stronger advocacy to ensure Indigenous voices are heard in national and international climate policymaking spaces.
National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), with financial support from MADRE, organized a school supplies distribution program in Hadikhola, Manahari Rural Municipality Ward 4. A total of 49 children from Grades 1 to 8 received school uniforms, shoes, bags, and essential stationery items. Among the recipients were 22 children from the endangered Bankariya community, 25 from the Chepang community, and 4 from the Tamang community. The distribution was officially carried out by Ward Chairperson Mr. Prakash Thapa. In addition to these items, educational materials were also distributed to 51 children. These included 56 dozen notebooks, 15 packets of dot pens, 5 boxes of pencils, 15 boxes of sharpeners, 15 boxes of erasers, and 50 record files. The program is part of the Santoshi Project, which also supports the operation of tuition classes for one year. With MADRE’s financial assistance, the project aims to enhance the academic performance of children from marginalized Indigenous communities. Since 2015, Santoshi Bankariya has been conducting tuition classes for Bankariya and other Indigenous children in the area.
The event was organized by NIWF's Field Coordinator Ms. Sanila Lama, staff member Ms. Rukmini Shrestha, Bangladeshi volunteers Ms. Eliza Baske and Ms. Afsana Ani. Mr AshokSujan Shrestha from Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Journalists (FoNIJ) was also present in the program as guest and news coverer.
