16 December 2021
A High-Level Dialogue on Indigenous Navigator and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was held from 15 to 16 December 2021 in Lalitpur.
Dr. Chaitanya Subba, former member of National Planning Commission (NPC) and also an Indigenous expert, and Mr. Nava Raj Sapkota, Joint Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), jointly presented the situation of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Nepal in the context of SDGs and made recommendations to address the IPs development agenda at the national development plan. The presentation was based on the research that is being jointly conducted by NHRC and LAHURNIP on the situation of IPs. The presentation focused on SDGs progress and gaps from the perspectives of IPs and the indicators that are relevant to capture the development aspirations of IPs.
The NPC is revising its SDGs targets and re-customizing complementary national indicators because of the adverse impacts of COVID-19.The existing national indicators are not really appropriate to measure the fundamental development agenda of IPs. The NHRC and LAHURNIP are going to suggest the indicators to the NPC to address the IPs development agenda at the national development plan.
David Nathaniel Berger- advisor on data generation and analysis and programme coordinator of Indigenous Navigator, the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)- made the presentation on Indigenous Navigator ( a set of tools for and by indigenous peoples to systematically monitor the level of recognition and implementation of their rights) and its application. He covered the historical background of Indigenous Navigator and how best the IPs, NHRIs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can use these tools to advance the IPs rights advocacy. Manoj Rai (Aathpahariya), advocacy officer of LAHURNIP, has presented the experience of Indigenous Navigator and encouraged the participants to use the tools to monitor IPs rights and development.
Advocate Shankar Limbu, Secretary of LAHURNIP, and Mr. Kiran Baram, Human Rights Officer of NHRC presented the rights of IPs and situation of IPs rights violation in Nepal and recommended the way forward to address the violations.
The dialogue was participated by Hon'ble Chairpersons and members of Indigenous Nationalities Commission (INC), Tharu Commission (TC), and Hon'ble member of NHRC, vice chairperson and member secretary of National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) including high level officials of the NHRIs and right activists.
The head of INC, TC and Hon'ble member of NHRC including NFDIN representatives committed to advance the Indigenous Navigator and work collectively for the promotion of IPs rights and development
