Written question asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) on Monday, 5 February 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 February 2024. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Nepal: Castes

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of caste-based discrimination in Nepal; what part of the Overseas Development Assistance is being used to support Dalit women across South Asia and specifically in Nepal; and what resources they have made available for grassroots organisations supporting Dalit women’s rights.

Answer: Gender inequality and social exclusion are significant challenges in Nepal. Whilst Nepal has a progressive constitution and many progressive laws and policies, implementation issues remain. The rights of women and girls is one of FCDO's core goals in Nepal. We fund grassroot organisations which work with the most vulnerable including Dalit communities and regularly engage with Dalit organisations to inform our existing and future programming. The UK is invested in shifting negative norms in society and institutions, improving processes and strengthening systems. Full information on our programmes can be found on DevTracker.

Secondary information