It is my great honour and privilege to welcome you to the official website of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN).
Nepal is a country of extraordinary cultural, linguistic, social and ecological diversity. Indigenous Peoples are an integral part of this diversity and have made invaluable contributions to the country’s history, identity, knowledge systems, cultures, languages, natural resource stewardship and sustainable development.
As the umbrella organization representing Indigenous Peoples of Nepal, NEFIN remains committed to advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights, dignity, identity, self-determination and meaningful participation in all spheres of national life. Our work is guided by the Constitution of Nepal, ILO Convention No. 169, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and other relevant international human rights standards.
Our priorities include securing Indigenous Peoples’ rights to lands, territories and natural resources; protecting and revitalizing Indigenous languages and cultures; promoting inclusive and equitable education; strengthening the participation and leadership of Indigenous women and youth; addressing climate change and environmental justice; and ensuring Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in decisions affecting Indigenous Peoples and their communities.
We believe that Nepal’s prosperity must be built on inclusion, equality, justice and respect for diversity. Development cannot be sustainable when the rights, knowledge and voices of Indigenous Peoples are overlooked. Our vision is of a Nepal where every Indigenous community can live with dignity, exercise its rights, preserve its identity and contribute equally to a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous nation.
I invite Indigenous Peoples, government institutions, civil society, development partners, researchers, media, youth, women and all friends of Indigenous rights to join us in this collective journey.
Together, let us build a Nepal where diversity is celebrated, rights are respected, voices are heard, and no one is left behind.