Addressing Legal Gaps to Achieve Gender-Equal Citizenship in Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal | 31 March 2026
On 31 March 2026, Nationality for All (NFA) and the Citizenship Affected People’s Network (CAPN), in collaboration with the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, convened a national dialogue on gender-equal citizenship rights in Nepal, alongside the official launch of the Global Legal Atlas on Gender Discrimination in Nationality Laws.
The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders—including legal experts, civil society representatives, advocates, and individuals with lived experience—to examine the current state of citizenship laws in Nepal and their impact on gender equality.
Context and Purpose
Despite ongoing advocacy efforts, gender discrimination in Nepal’s citizenship framework continues to affect women and their families, limiting equal access to nationality and the rights that flow from it. These challenges are rooted in both legal provisions and broader constitutional and administrative practices.
The dialogue aimed to create a space for critical reflection and forward-looking discussion, focusing on:
- Existing legal and constitutional gaps in citizenship provisions
- The lived realities of those affected by discriminatory laws
- Opportunities for advancing legal and policy reform
Key Discussions
The event facilitated meaningful exchanges between policymakers, advocates, and affected individuals, highlighting the intersection between law, policy, and lived experience.
Participants emphasized:
- The urgent need to address gender-discriminatory provisions in citizenship laws
- The importance of aligning Nepal’s legal framework with constitutional principles and international human rights standards
- The role of sustained advocacy and coalition-building in advancing reform
The launch of the Legal Atlas on Gender Discrimination in Nationality Laws further supported these discussions by providing a global and comparative perspective on how such laws operate and impact access to rights.
Looking Ahead
The dialogue underscored both the urgency and the opportunity to advance gender-equal citizenship in Nepal. As the country enters a new phase of governance, there is a critical window to pursue meaningful constitutional and legal reform.
NFA and its partners remain committed to supporting ongoing advocacy efforts to ensure that women in Nepal are granted equal citizenship rights alongside men, and that citizenship laws reflect principles of equality, dignity, and inclusion.
Acknowledgement
NFA extends its gratitude to all participants, speakers, and partners whose contributions enriched the discussion and strengthened the collective momentum toward reform.
