Dignity & Freedom

Every year, in Nepal, caste-based discrimination and harmful traditional practices affect thousands of people from different vulnerable communities: widows, members of the so-called Dalit caste, alleged witches, and girl-children. The Society for Humanism Nepal (SOCH Nepal) is the only humanist organization in the country and has always been at the forefront of the campaign to tackle this inhumane persecution and to provide assistance to its victims. For example, a report from SOCH Nepal has found out that every year at least...

SOCH Nepal is launching programs to organize victims of Kurities to fight against it. SOCH provides access to justice using various means and creating pressure through pressure groups.

One of the key issues of SOCH Nepal is to fight untouchability. Dalits are the most skilled cultural group of Nepal but facing inhuman discrimination of untouchability at the same time. Gandarvas are the cultural group of people who traditionally hold the legacy of the music industry of Nepal. SOCH Nepal works with Gandarva to promote the Nepali folk musical culture among Nepali people. One of the key events of the program is to organize music competitions and honoring them.

SOCH Nepal with collaboration with National WOmen’s commission conducted nationwide research to identify the Kurities. Local people were invited to brief the local kurities they have experienced. Those were listed and further investigated prior to listing as Kuriti. A detail research booklet was published after the field survey.

SOCH Nepal is constantly monitoring the issues of Kurities in Nepal published in printed and online media. Those events of Kurities are recorded in a format. Based upon those monitoring SOCH Nepal publishes the quarterly report on Kurities and their effect in Nepal. The report is well recognized by national and international agencies. UN has well recognized SOCH Nepal’s findings in its UPR reports.