Lawyer’s Association for the Human Rights of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP)

The Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) was registered under the Institution Registration Act 1967 in 1995. It was established by indigenous lawyers as a non–profit, non-political organisation with the aim of working to promote, defend, and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples in Nepal.

LAHURNIP focuses on strategic litigations, documentation and reporting at national and international levels, research and policy advocacy activities as well as capacity building, collectively with indigenous peoples’ organisations (IPOs), NGOs and other stakeholders. LAHURNIP believes the success of advocacy lies in the collective effort of all indigenous peoples in Nepal. In its work LAHURNIP respects impartiality, non-discrimination, inclusiveness and promotes democratic culture.

LAHURNIP envisions a society where indigenous peoples are equally involved in the decision making level, valued, respected and listened to and where they feel safe and where they can develop to their fullest potential. Simultaneously, it has been working to create solidarity with the regional and international indigenous peoples' rights promotional movement and aims to ensure social justice through legal aid. Since its inception, it has been promoting the better implementation of the ILO convention 169 and the UNDRIP inter alia other international instruments that Nepal is a party to, meanwhile, helping indigenous communities to manifest their rights, particularly those who are affected by the projects upon their land, territories and natural resources.