Supreme Court Orders Implementation of ILO 169, UNDRIP, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The Supreme Court issued a mandamus order to the Government of Nepal, directing it to implement ILO Convention 169, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011), and the Declaration on the Right to Development (1986) in the context of development projects and business activities.

Additionally, the court has ordered a series of due diligence actions to be taken by Upper Solu Hydroelectric Company, which has developed  23.5 MW hydropower project from the Solu River in Solududhkunda Municipality, Solukhumbu district. The company must identify, mitigate, and address the impacts caused by the project on indigenous and local communities.

 Affected communities filed a writ petition in 2019, demanding a supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be carried out, ensuring the participation of the affected communities and addressing the impacts on their lands, livelihoods, and environment.The full text of the mandamus is recently issued by the Supreme Court.

LAHURNIP has provided legal aid to the communities throughout the litigation processes