Kathmandu, March 8, 2025: A national-level event on "A Civic Path to Equality: Climate Justice, Food Security & Humanitarian Action" took place yesterday at Alfa Beta House, Buddhanagar, Kathmandu. Organized by key organizations including RRN, KIRDARC, INSEC, WHH, RtFN, NEEDS, GREEN Foundation, and CSRC, the event brought together policymakers, experts, and activists to discuss pressing issues of climate justice, food security, and human rights.
Key Highlights of the Event:
Hon. Dr. Surya Prasad Dhungel, Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), delivered a powerful keynote address, emphasizing the interconnection between economic, social, and cultural rights with climate justice and food security. Dr. Dhungel highlighted the constitutional guarantees of food and a healthy environment, stressing the need for stronger policies, legal accountability, and resource mobilization to safeguard the rights of vulnerable communities such as indigenous groups, women, and smallholder farmers.
Mr. Bijayraj Gautam of INSEC discussed the intrinsic link between human and environmental rights, underscoring Nepal's constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.
Mr. Bhanu Parajuli of RRN outlined the challenges in implementing the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act. He noted that the Act's provision for a National Food Council—chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development with local representation—remains unfulfilled due to structural and procedural barriers. Despite low budget allocations for agriculture, the high expenditure performance highlights urgent demand. However, weak coordination, policy gaps, and inadequate institutional mechanisms hinder progress.
Ms. Nirmala BK, representing Sahas Nepal from Jajarkot, shared grassroots perspectives, highlighting challenges such as erratic rainfall, floods, barren lands, and labor migration. She called for research into the causes of declining agricultural productivity and advocated for promoting communal farming and agroecological practices.
Mr. Nawaraj Pudasaini, representing the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), presented Nepal’s ongoing climate justice initiatives, including the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the ambitious Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which requires $33 billion in funding. He stressed prioritizing indigenous peoples, smallholder farmers, and culturally appropriate food systems while bolstering local seed networks. Strong policies, grassroots mobilization, and inclusive governance are critical for achieving sustainable solutions.
In parallel, the Human Rights and Social Justice Alliance hosted its 5th Human Rights Defenders’ Conference and 6th General Assembly in Kathmandu. The event was attended by over 400 human rights defenders (HRDs) from across the country, who engaged in discussions on diverse aspects of social justice, climate change, and humanitarian action.
The event underscored the urgent need for collective action to address the intertwined challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and human rights violations. Organizers called on all stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society organizations, and local communities, to strengthen collaboration and ensure the realization of rights and justice for all.
