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Nepal

Monthly Event Reports

November 2023 | Government bans TikTok and tightens control over social media platforms

On 13 November, the Nepali government announced a country-wide ban on the popular social media app TikTok, citing concerns over its disruptive effect on "social harmony, goodwill and flow of indecent materials." The decision followed a directive introduced a week prior, requiring social media platforms to set up liaison offices in the country, giving them three months to comply. Rights advocates argue the ban infringes on digital rights and freedom of expression. Taranath Dahal, founder of Freedom Forum, criticized the decision to ban the app as lacking transparency, highlighting that the decision to "abruptly" shut down one platform goes against the “constitution and democratic norms." The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the decision.

August 2023 | New National Cybersecurity Policy raises digital rights concerns
Watch flag

Nepal's cabinet approved a new National Cyber Security Policy on 8 August, aimed at establishing a secure online environment for users. While welcomed by some advocates for being the first data protection policy of its kind in Nepal, digital rights experts have voiced concerns regarding specific aspects of the policy that pose a threat to internet freedom and information access. The most concerning provision is "Strategy 11.25," which suggests the creation of a government-controlled intranet and national internet gateway, likened by some critics to practices seen in China and Cambodia. Rights experts caution that such gateways could enable censorship and surveillance, potentially compromising data privacy. Additionally, civil society organizations have criticized the limited public consultation that preceded the policy's introduction. It remains to be seen how the new policy will be translated into law.

June 2023 | Same-sex marriage recognized in landmark interim ruling

Nepal’s Supreme Court (SC) issued a groundbreaking interim order on 28 June instructing the government to allow the registration of same-sex marriages, setting up a temporary registry for applicant couples pending a final verdict. It remains unclear when the parliament will officially pass a marriage equality law, however, rights activists have hailed the SC order as a huge step forward toward achieving marriage equality, with hopes that legislation will follow. Conversely, reports of District Courts finding legal ways to not comply with the order have emerged. Human rights experts have urged parliament to act quickly on amending the law and providing further guidance.

May 2023 | Supreme Court orders government to recognize same-sex marriage

The Supreme Court on 2 May instructed the government to legally recognize the same-sex foreign spouse of a Nepali citizen, along with broader recognition of same-sex relationships. The case was brought by a gay couple, a Nepali and German citizen who were legally married in Germany but denied in their request for recognition in Nepal. The court ruled that failing to do so is a violation of the constitution and recommended that the government re-examine a 2015 court-ordered report that includes suggested legal changes in ensuring marriage equality. The landmark ruling builds on previous judgments recognizing the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, marking a significant step toward ensuring LGBTQIA+ equality.

Explore past monthly event reports

GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
30 034 989
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (since 2022)
Head of government party
CPN (Maoist Centre)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Parallel
Women in lower or single chamber
33.1%
Women in upper chamber
37.9%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
5.89
Head of state
President Ram Chandra Poudel
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly + regional/local representatives)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
21/01/2021
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
84.12%
Population Tooltip
30 034 989
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (since 2022)
Head of government party
CPN (Maoist Centre)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Parallel
Women in lower or single chamber
33.1%
Women in upper chamber
37.9%
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
5.89
Head of state
President Ram Chandra Poudel
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly + regional/local representatives)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
21/01/2021
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
84.12%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rights
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Rule of law
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024
Representation neutral Participation
Sep 2023
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2024

Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Annual value

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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