Geneva — The pre-session for Nepal’s Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), held under the United Nations Human Rights Council, has been successfully concluded in Geneva. With the active participation of representatives from Nepal’s civil society, the session provided the international community with an in-depth overview of the country’s human rights situation, the challenges faced, and priority areas requiring reform.

The pre-session primarily focused on critical and long-standing issues such as transitional justice, gender-based violence, women’s and children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, Dalit and Indigenous Peoples’ rights, intersectional discrimination, access to justice, and citizenship through the mother’s name. These issues—deeply connected to the protection and promotion of human rights in Nepal—were highlighted as areas demanding urgent attention.

Civil society representatives from Nepal—including Mandira Sharma, Sabin Shrestha, Laxmi Pokharel, Meena Paudel, Dipesh Shrestha, Karuna Parajuli, Bijaya Gautam, Moti Nepali, Pitambar Kharel, Suraj Koirala, Amrita Thebe, Manisha Dhakal, Sarita Barmaska, Rup Sunar, and Puja Nyaupane from the National Human Rights Commission—presented concrete facts, lived experiences, and recommendations. Their presentations shed light on persistent gaps, unfulfilled state commitments, and systemic problems that continue to obstruct human rights progress in Nepal.

According to participants, the pre-session provided a crucial platform to bring Nepal’s human rights concerns back into global focus. The issues raised by civil society are expected to create positive pressure and encourage stronger cooperation for policy improvements and institutional reforms in Nepal.

Nepal’s formal fourth-cycle UPR review is scheduled to take place in January 2026 in Geneva. During the review, Nepal will be questioned by member states regarding its progress so far, remaining challenges, and future plans. Every UN member state undergoes a UPR review approximately every four and a half years, submitting a national report that outlines responsibilities, commitments, challenges, and steps taken toward improving human rights conditions.

The core objectives of the UPR process include ending all forms of inequality and discrimination, enhancing the human rights environment for all, holding governments accountable for their human rights commitments, building the capacity of states, and promoting cooperation and coordination for human rights protection and promotion.

For Nepal, the ongoing UPR cycle is expected to serve as an important turning point toward genuine and sustainable human rights reform.