Statement: Nepalese Indigenous Peoples at the UNPFII’s 8th Session in New York

Written by Jitpal Kirati

Tuesday, 19 May 2009 15:20

New York- Nepal is a country of great diversity. There are more than 100 different caste and ethnic groups who speak more than 92 different languages. Among them, 59 different ethnic groups have been recognized as Indigenous Nationalities. They comprise more than 37.2 percent of Nepal’s total of 27 million populations.

Statement by Hon. Mr. Jitpal Kirat, Vice-President, National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities, at the eight session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

New York, 19 May 2009

Madame Chairperson,

Distinguished Indigenous People’s representatives,

Distinguished Delegates,

On behalf of the delegation of Nepal, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to you, Madam Chairperson, and other distinguished members on your election to this session of the Forum.

I hope this meeting will help to strengthen cooperation among indigenous peoples and encourage governments and development partners and UN agencies to increase their support and commitment for the cause of indigenous peoples.

Madam Chairperson,

We are fully appreciative of the work of the Forum especially on the implementation of six mandated areas including the attainment of MDGs towards securing the interests of the Indigenous peoples.

The indigenous peoples deserve a dignified life and honorable treatment by the respective states wherever they live. International community including the United Nations should redouble its efforts in protecting the rights of the indigenous peoples by empowering socially, culturally, economically and politically.

Madam Chairperson,

Nepal is a country of great diversity. There are more than on hundred different caste and ethnic groups who speak more than 92 different languages. Among them, 59 different ethnic groups have been recognized as Indigenous Nationalities. They comprise more than 37.2 percent of Nepal’s total of 27 million populations. Like in many other countries, indigenous peoples of Nepal have endured discrimination and marginalization on the basis of ethnicity, language, culture and class.

Recently, the government of Nepal has taken several significant measures to ameliorate the situation of the indigenous peoples. Nepal has ratified the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No 169 in August 2007. It guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples over land and natural resources and the rights of education in their mother tongue and participation of indigenous peoples in the processes that affect them. The Government of Nepal has also prepared a comprehensive action plan for the implementation of the convention. Nepal is also committed to implementing the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

At the invitation of the Government of Nepal, Prof. James Anaya, the Special Rapporteur of the UN on Indigenous Peoples visited Nepal in November 2008 to assess the current situation of indigenous peoples in Nepal. We are expecting the final report of Prof. Anaya’s visit to Nepal soon.

One of the main themes of Interim Plan (2007-2010) is “Inclusive Development” including targeted programs for indigenous peoples. One of its objectives is to promote economic and cultural development of indigenous peoples by increasing their access to administrative, social and economic resources. The government has recently introduced a social security scheme for the indigenous peoples who have been identified as endangered groups. National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) is also implementing several projects for socio-economic development of marginalized indigenous peoples.

Madam Chairperson,

The Interim Constitution of Nepal defines Nepal as a multi ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religions and multi-cultural country. The constitution recognizes all languages spoken in Nepal as mother tongue are national languages, which can be used in the government offices at local level. The Interim Constitution of Nepal guarantees the civil liberties and fundamental freedoms of all people, including the indigenous peoples.

The election of the Constituent Assembly was held successfully in April 2008. The historical political and social transformation, including the declaration of Nepal as a federal democratic republic, has created new opportunities for the rights of the indigenous peoples in Nepal. Our Constituent Assembly is one of the most-inclusive assemblies in the world; with a greater representative of people form various ethnic and geographical regions. 219 members of 601 members Constituent Assembly are from the indigenous communities. It is hoped that the new Constitution will have significant provisions with regard to the rights of indigenous peoples and disadvantaged groups and communities.

Madam Chairperson,

Finally, I would like to reiterate Nepal’s full commitment to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including from ethnic and indigenous groups. I call upon international community to extend its support and cooperation in these efforts.

Thank You.

Jitpal Kirati. Photo: eEyeCam

Press Release

Mr. Jitpal Kirat, Vice-chairman of the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities made a statement at the eighth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today in New York.

He reiterated Nepal's full commitment to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including the ethnic and indigenous groups and expressed commitment to implementing the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In his address, Mr Kirat said that the historical political and social transformation, including the declaration of Nepal as a federal democratic republic, has created new opportunities for the rights of the indigenous peoples in Nepal.

He also said that the Government of Nepal has ratified the International Labour organization (ILO) Convention no.169 in August, 2007 and has taken several significant measures to improve the situation of the indigenous peoples.

Mentioning one of the themes of the interim plan, “Inclusive Development” with targeted programmes to promote economic and cultural development of indigenous peoples by increasing their access to administrative, social and economic resources he said that the Government has introduced a social security scheme for the indigenous peoples who have been identified as endangered groups and National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) is also implementing several projects for socio-economic development of marginalized indigenous peoples.

Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations

New York

19 May, 2009