CSW submission to Nepal Universal Periodic Review

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a human rights review process established by the Human Rights Council in 2006. Under the UPR process, the human rights record of each member state is examined every 4.5 years. The UPR provides also opportunities for civil society to highlights human rights concerns across the world.

CSW’s submission to Nepal’s Universal Periodic Review, outlines concerns regarding the extent to which the right to freedom of religion or belief is to be enshrined in the country’s new constitution.

Highlights:

• It remains crucial that the new constitution will include a comprehensive provision for freedom of religion or belief.
• Members of religious minorities must submit to greater scrutiny to receive their identity documentation.
• Challenges still remain regarding the equalisation of burial rights for religious minorities.

CSW recommends the government of Nepal:

• Enshrines adequate protections for full freedom of religion or belief without discrimination in the new constitution.
• Establishes a statutory, multi-faith religious commission to address religious and social issues, with the power to issue recommendations to the government.
• Amends regulations for securing identity documents so that they treat members of all religions equally.

Download a PDF copy of the report here.