A United Nations expert on minority issues has arrived in Kathmandu on a 10-day visit to Nepal. The Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Nicolas Levrat is scheduled to stay in Nepal from December 4 to 13, according to a statement issued from Geneva and provided by the UN Information System in Kathmandu.

“During his visit, Levrat will examine legislation, policies and practices affecting people belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,” the statement read. “He will assess effective political participation, adequate education, access to justice and administration of criminal justice, including hate crimes and hate speech targeting minorities.”

The Special Rapporteur will meet with government officials, as well as representatives of minority groups, civil society organisations, religious leaders, and other actors, it said.

Levrat, who is visiting Nepal at the invitation of the government of Nepal, will visit Kathmandu and travel across the country, including the Madhesh and Karnali provinces.

The Special Rapporteur has planned to brief mediapersons in Nepal before his return. Then, he will present his report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026, according to the UN.

Special rapporteurs, independent experts, and working groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and they are not UN staff, according to the UN.

Levrat was appointed by the Human Rights Council on October 13, 2023 and took up his functions as Special Rapporteur on November 1, 2023.