Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program Executive Director Daniel Kobei has lauded the Nepal Supreme Court ruling on indigenous peoples’ rights.
Kobei has termed the ruling as a big win for the indigenous peoples in Nepal.
“This is historic Win for Indigenous Rights in Nepal!,” stated Kobei.
Nepal’s Supreme Court has ruled that ALL levels of government must follow ILO Convention 169 and UNDRIP when making laws and policies.
That means: Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, Mandatory Free, Prior, and Informed Consultation (FPIC), Real alignment with international human rights standards.
This landmark decision comes after a petition from LAHURNIP, a big step forward in the fight for justice and recognition.
Kobei added that it gives hope and more snergy to keep pushing for governments to respect Indigenous voices everywhere.
The ruling follows a petition filed by the Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP), which called for the full implementation of ILO 169 and UNDRIP, including the requirement to obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from Indigenous Peoples before adopting any measures that affect them.
The Court emphasized that provincial and local governments, alongside the federal government, share responsibility for upholding these international standards, offering Indigenous Peoples greater opportunities to assert their rights at all levels of governance.
Although Nepal ratified ILO 169 and supported UNDRIP in 2007, these commitments have yet to be fully incorporated into national legislations and policies.
This ruling represents a major step toward the protection of Indigenous rights and ensures that all tiers of government align their legal frameworks with international obligations.
The petition was led by human rights lawyers Bhim Rai, Dinesh Kumar Dhale, Jitendra Bajracharya, Bimal Shrestha, and Shankar Limbu, all long-time advocates for Indigenous Peoples in Nepal.