Kathmandu, April 23: Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Raj Kumar Gupta, has said the Constitution has guaranteed adequate rights to indigenous nationalities.
During his address to the 24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII Twenty-fourth Session) commenced in the UN headquarters New York today, the Minister said this, according to Ministry’s Spokesperson Kali Prasad Parajuli.
Stating that Nepal has adopted the principles of UN declarations on the rights of the indigenous nationalities, he said such principles of the bases for promoting justice and equality for the indigenous nationalities people.
He also informed the session that the 16th periodic plan of Nepal has ensured the inclusion and empowerment, equitable development of social justice for indigenous community.
The indigenous children have the right to education on mother tongues. The Nepal’s laws have specially protected the rights of indigenous community with the guarantee of prudential rights by supporting the communal ownership to land and property, he added.
Monthly allowance for endangered indigenous groups, he said, adding that Nepal as a signatory to the ILO Convention 169 is committed to protecting the identity, language and culture of indigenous nationalities.
He, however, said that despite all these efforts and best practices to improvement and promote the indigenous nationalities’ rights, significant challenges remain in terms for ensuring comprehensive health, education, descent work opportunities, economic opportunities and other facilities to them.
In this given context, he called on international communities to increase their investment in such sectors and cooperate with Nepal in its effort to preserve and promote the culture of indigenous nationalities.
Minister Gupta further stated that Nepal is ready to collaborate with the United Nations and global partners to guarantee the dignity, welfare, and empowerment of indigenous communities. He called for cooperation and coordination to advance the progress of all indigenous communities and secure a brighter future for them.
The session is themed on “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges. #nepal #political #rss
