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.
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.
On 6th July 2025, National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), in collaboration with the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG), National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal (NIDWAN), and National Indigenous Women Federation, successfully convened a Validation Workshop on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Draft Report, prepared through an Indigenous lens. The workshop aimed to validate the UPR draft report by incorporating critical inputs, feedback, and recommendations from Indigenous Nations and persons with disabilities. This collective effort seeks to ensure that the voices, rights, and lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples are effectively reflected in Nepal’s UPR submission.
The program was facilitated by Ms. Pratima Gurung, Chairperson of NIDWAN and a prominent Indigenous disability rights activist. Hon. Kiran Kumar Sah, Chairman of the Committee on Women and Social Affairs served as the Chief guest for the program. Mr. Hom Yamphu, Professor at TU and an expert on Indigenous rights and policy advocacy, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the UPR mechanism, its relevance to Nepal, and the process of preparing the draft report. He provided an in-depth walkthrough of the key thematic areas covered in the report, highlighting the gaps in the existing human rights frameworks and policies from Indigenous perspectives. The participants of the workshop included representatives from Indigenous Organizations, Indigenous Disabled persons organizations and Indigenous activist. The attendees actively engaged in reviewing the draft and offered insightful feedback and recommendations based on lived realities, structural barriers, and policy shortcomings. Key areas discussed included land rights, political participation, access to justice, education, climate justice, and accessibility for Indigenous Women, Girls and persons with disabilities.
From 9th to 11th July 2025, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) organized a three-day training on Masculinity, Gender-Based Discrimination, and Social Norms for its staff, board members, and consortium partners—Dalit Women Network and Nepal Muslim Women Welfare Society (NMWWS). The training aimed to deepen understanding of gendered power structures and challenge harmful social norms within diverse communities. The program commenced with opening remarks by NIWF Chairperson Ms. Suni Lama, who highlighted the importance of critical reflection on gender roles, especially in the context of Indigenous and marginalized communities. Ms. Manorama from UN Women also delivered insightful remarks, emphasizing the need for intersectional approaches to gender justice.
The sessions were facilitated by GESI expert Dr. Sangram Lama, with support from team leader Ms. Pooja Shrestha. Vice Chairperson of NIWF, Ms. Yasso Kanti Bhattachan, delivered a compelling presentation on the Indigenous Peoples' Movement, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and General Recommendation No. 39 on the rights of Indigenous women and girls. Additionally, Mr. Amrit Sunuwar, Chairperson of Sunuwar Samaj Sewa, presented on the critical role of media in amplifying marginalized voices. He also addressed the media’s frequent bias and its failure to represent the issues of Indigenous and excluded communities adequately. The training created a space for reflection, learning, and collective strategizing toward building inclusive narratives and challenging discriminatory social norms.
