Updates
- Historic 13-Point Ilam Declaration–2083 Issued with Resolution to Declare \'Dalit Rights Decade (2083–2093)\'
- Taplejung Declaration-2083 Adopted with Shared Resolution to Declare Taplejung the Country\'s First \'Fully Untouchability-Free District\'
- Deep Self-Realization and Policy Commitment Essential on the Issue of Caste-Based Untouchability
- Commitment of Representatives to Enact Dalit Rights Act in All 15 Local Levels of Jhapa
- Collaboration Meeting Held Between National Dalit Commission and Human Rights Forum (HURF) Nepal
- Workshop on identifying issues of Dalit community with local Local Government Representatives completed
- Dalit community increasingly victimized by changing patterns of discrimination
Deep Self-Realization and Policy Commitment Essential on the Issue of Caste-Based Untouchability
Phidim (Panchthar), September 6, 2026
Concluding that eradicating deeply rooted caste-based discrimination and untouchability from society requires not merely superficial efforts, but deep self-realization and policy commitment from multi-stakeholders, the historic 10-point 'Panchthar Declaration–2083' has been issued in Panchthar.
The declaration was issued following a two-day district-level joint workshop organized by Human Rights Forum (HURF) Nepal, Ilam, with the support of Misereor Germany and in collaboration with the District Coordination Committee, Panchthar, under the project "Solidarity for Ensuring Dignity: A Collective Effort against Caste Based Discrimination through Policy Awareness at Local Level".
In the workshop, deliberations involving elected representatives, political parties, administration, police, civil society, and Dalit rights activists of Panchthar district expressed a shared commitment to enact a 'Local Dalit Rights Act', form a Dalit Rights Committee, and establish a local Human Rights Desk for all marginalized and specific communities across all eight local levels of the district within the upcoming fiscal year. Furthermore, the declaration outlined an action plan to prepare a comprehensive Dalit profile and a strategic plan in all municipalities to facilitate objective and evidence-based planning.
The workshop, chaired by Mohan Singh Thebe, Chairperson of Human Rights Forum Nepal, featured the presence and special remarks of Hon. Maiya Shrestha Lawati, Member of the Koshi Provincial Assembly, during the inaugural session. Similarly, the closing session was graced by the presence and remarks of Hon. Aindra Sundar Nembang, Member of the Constituent Assembly.
The program witnessed the presence of Ram Raj Angdembe, Chief of District Coordination Committee Panchthar, vice-chairpersons of various local levels, ward chairs, municipal executive members, the District Administration Office, District Police Office, political party leadership, Bar Association, private sector, non-governmental organizations, journalists, and Dalit rights activists. Affirming that untouchability is not solely an issue of the Dalit community but a common problem of the entire society, participants emphasized that local governments must be accountable in policy, structural, and budgetary terms to bring an end to it.
The workshop was facilitated by subject expert Karna Bahadur Nepali, Mohan Singh Thebe, Devendra Biswakarma, and Man Kumar Baraily. The program was hosted/moderated by Suresh Portel of HURF Nepal.
