Policy Brief | May 2024
This policy brief is based on information gathered through real-time monitoring of governance conflicts in Nepal, as exhibited by nine periodic reports published by GMC Nepal (1658 news and events throughout October 2022 to April 2024). These reports analyzed the changing dynamics of governance conflicts and associated elements, recognizing the crucial role of media to reflect where the latest developments and interests are focused. Thus, the key methods in the study included desk policy and legal review, real-time governance monitoring, real-time media monitoring, data scraping and analysis, and expert consultations.
Key challenges
- Ethnic and identity-based tensions persist in Nepal as disagreements over the restructuring process of federal structure, especially renaming of province 1, and struggles over secularism’s meaning for minority religions remain unaddressed.
- Delay of justice in cases of heinous crimes committed against specific gender, caste and religion have fueled multiple protests and demonstrations among the public, evoking emotions, and persistent demands of recognition and justice from the government.
- With a history of a decade long civil war driven by the historical exclusion of indigenous and ethnic groups, Nepal continues to face the challenge of reconciling its diverse ethnic and cultural identities while ensuring justice, and inclusion for all its citizens. The ongoing efforts toward transitional justice and constitutional reforms are crucial steps in this journey but the progress as witnessed is immensely slow.
- Despite the constitutional provisions, government bodies and institutions inducing and endorsing discriminatory practices increase marginalized group’s (particularly the Dalit community) vulnerabilities to caste-based discrimination and injustices.
- Lack of government response and unclear roles and responsibilities designated to government authorities hinder the access of minority groups like the endangered Indigenous Rautes to basic citizenship rights and government services. This gap also affects the basic constitutional rights of sexual minority groups.
Key recommendations
- Addressing the dissatisfaction within pro-identity groups requires concrete efforts to facilitate meaningful negotiation and dialogue that is aimed at reaching a conclusive resolution, prioritizing a sustainable and long- term solution. It is imperative to proactively engage with all stakeholders involved, listen to their grievances, and work towards finding mutually agreeable solutions that respect cultural and religious identities while ensuring social harmony and stability.
- Historically, women have endured persistent oppression and exclusion, challenges that persist. Despite existing laws, it is crucial for state and government actors to take robust measures to implement these laws effectively. Moreover, expediting legal proceedings is essential to deliver swift justice to victims and survivors of heinous crimes and their families.
- The escalating number of group clashes based on religious sentiments highlights a significant disruption in social cohesion. Therefore, the government must actively pursue methods to restore cohesion and preserve harmony in society. Exploring various conflict resolution measures, including open dialogue, becomes imperative to achieve this overarching goal.
- The growing ethnocultural leverage in the Nepali polity, with identity movements based on ethnicity, caste, religion, region, has gained a momentum in recent years. In such context, the government must find measures to address the rising ethnocultural sentiments and nationalism while ensuring sustained democracy and peace. Civic spaces and platform for productive dialogues may help reduce the brewing tensions before they turn into larger conflicts.
