Nepal’s elections marked by both hope for reform and concern over human rights
Nepal is preparing for the 2026 parliamentary elections in a climate where civil society feels simultaneously optimistic and tense. Grassroots organisations supported by KIOS describe the atmosphere as twofold: expectations for the elections are high, yet the civic space is narrowing due to increased polarisation, the spread of misinformation, and growing pressure on human rights defenders. At the same time, organisations report heightened activism and stress that hope for a democratic shift remains strong.
The elections will take place on 5 March, for the first time since the youth-led anticorruption protests brought down the previous government in September 2025. Nearly 19 million voters will elect a new parliament at a time when tackling corruption, unemployment and the country’s weak economic situation are central themes. After the September demonstrations, KIOS published a news update on Nepal’s democratic development based on messages from KIOS grantees. KIOS supports human rights organisations in Nepal working across different thematic areas; at the moment KIOS has seven active grants. The organisations supported by KIOS are the Citizenship Affected People’s Network (CAPN), Friends Affected & Infected Together in Hand (FAITH), the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO), the International Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development (INHURED), the Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP), Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS), and Youth Advocacy Nepal (YAN). Now, as the elections draw near, we asked from them how they perceive Nepal’s future.
Civil society remains active, but its operating space is shrinking
INHURED founding president Gopal Siwakoti describes the atmosphere ahead the elections as follows: “As Nepal approaches the election, civil society is both energized and anxious. There is a strong push for accountability and transparency, with grassroots groups mobilising to demand fair representation. Human rights defenders across the country emphasise meaningful inclusivity, ensuring minority voices are not sidelined. Yet mistrust and polarisation from past crises continue to shadow the environment.”
Many KIOS-supported organisations are working specifically on election-related issues: they communicate human rights priorities to political parties, educate voters about their rights, and monitor the fairness of the elections. Their assessments depict civil society as both active and cautious. Political polarisation, mistrust and increasing pressure are limiting their ability to operate, while phenomena such as online harassment, the media’s self-censorship, and in some cases direct intimidation, complicate their work.
FEDO, KIOS grantee promoting the rights of Dalit women, summarises these sentiments: “Particularly among youths and marginalised groups, there is an elevated degree of engagement regarding inclusion, accountability in governance, and electoral participation. At the same time, persistent campaigning is growing more difficult because of political polarisation, scarce resources, and shrinking civic space. To ensure that the voices of historically marginalised groups are taken into account, various groups have concentrated on voter awareness, inclusive participation, and democratic process monitoring.”
Young people demand change and have become a political force
Youth-led protests and campaigns have boosted civic engagement and highlighted issues of corruption, governmental accountability, and constitutional rights. According to KIOS grantee FAITH, young people emphasise that voting is a civic duty, and the number of first-time voters is expected to raise voter turnout.
The visible mobilisation of young people has influenced party campaigning, candidate selection and political debate in ways that many of our grantee organisations describe as historic. The founder of KIOS grantee YAN Naren Khatiwada describes the shift in these words: “The youth-led protests have reshaped Nepal’s political landscape and the dynamics of the elections in several ways. Parties, like Nepali Congress have undergone leadership changes, with pressure on other parties to reconsider generational transitions. Both established and emerging parties have nominated more young candidates for the upcoming election.” According to Naren, there is clearly stronger emphasis on governance, youth employment, quality education and accountability. Political actors are also focusing more on youth perspectives. This reflects stronger youth engagement in democratic processes.
Rights of marginalised groups at risk of being overlooked
Although political engagement among young people and marginalised groups is increasing, particularly around participation, accountability and voting – , polarisation, scarce resources and shrinking civic space undermine long-term advocacy efforts. While young people are more visible in public discussions, marginalised communities still risk remaining underrepresented in decision-making arenas.
Structural barriers continue to restrict the political participation of these groups. Information from SUS shows, for example, that there are no Dalit LGBTIQA+ candidates, and that even voter registration may be unsafe for sexual and gender minorities. Humiliating treatment at registration points, fear of being outed, and pressure from family and community prevent many from taking part even as voters.
FEDO notes that Dalit women, girls and other marginalised women face discrimination and threats that weaken their ability to participate in decision- making and the electoral process. These messages highlight that ensuring safe and equal participation is crucial. Without it, the voices of marginalised groups will go unheard.
LAHURNIP, organisation advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights, raises serious concerns that Indigenous self-governance and international obligations, such as ILO Convention No. 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples—as well as the constitutional provision relating to special, protected, and autonomous regions for Indigenous Peoples, have not been implemented and are not included in the election campaigning:
” Youth-led movements have energised public engagement and highlighted governance and accountability issues. However, Indigenous demands—land rights, autonomy, self-determination, and customary governance—remain largely ignored. Indigenous youth are pushing these issues into public debate, but political parties continue to overlook them.” says Durga Mani Rai from LAHURNIP.
The elections could mark a new direction or heighten tensions
KIOS grantees believe the elections could become a turning point that strengthens democratic institutions, increases transparency, and improves the position of marginalised groups. Digital participation, youth mobilisation and advocacy for the political rights of migrant workers may help renew political culture.
FEDO notes the role of civil society organisations, especially in facilitating meaningful inclusion: “The opportunities are having ample of public spaces to raise issues of inclusion, rights and social justice in public discourses and agencies building. An organisation like us jumps in bridging gaps between the communities and institutions.”
At the same time, the risks are considerable: the rise of populism, further shrinking of civic space, continued structural discrimination, and deepening impunity.
Bimala Gayak, Executive Director of SUS and Shiva Hari Gyawali, Programme Manager of SUS sum up the situation as follows: “ Despite the tensions, polarisation, and shrinking civic space, this election moment also carries genuine hope for Nepal’s democratic future. The visible political engagement of youth, the rise of independent and marginalised candidates, and growing public debate around corruption and governance reform signal a society that is not disengaged but actively negotiating its future.”
This said, overall, KIOS grantees share a feeling that the institutions and frameworks are ready for Nepal to have safe, free and fair elections. Naren from YAN notes: “The National Election Commission and relevant government bodies have largely completed procedural and logistical preparations. While sporadic tensions between parties may pose challenges, institutional frameworks are in place to ensure credible elections.”
What the impact of the youth-led protest and the aftermath will be remains to be seen. For example, FAITH notes that “however, the actual impact will depend on youth involvement until election day and whether new political actors can convert activism into votes.”
After the elections begins the decisive work of strengthening democracy and rights
For the period following the elections, KIOS grantees have several expectations and hopes. These include peaceful acceptance of the election results, strengthened political stability and constitutional order, and genuine participation by young people and marginalised groups in societal decision-making. Partners also hope for closer cooperation between the state and civil society, human rights -based policy measures, including those supporting Indigenous autonomy, and a more open and accountable political culture. The post-election period is described as one of the most decisive moments in Nepal’s recent history. Organisations stress that political leaders can rebuild trust only by addressing the concerns that fuelled the protests and by responding with coherent solutions that respect human rights.
According to INHURED, it is essential that political actors commit to transparency and genuinely include civil society in decision-making. Gopal Siwakoti notes that “civil society should be embraced as a partner, institutions must commit to transparency, and youth voices should be integrated into policymaking. Ultimately, democracy must be lived, not merely promised.”
Likewise, LAHURNIP emphasises accountability and strengthening Indigenous rights. Its representative Durga Mani Rai shares a hope that “political parties actively recognise and prioritise Indigenous rights, self-determination, and representation, and Nepal cultivates a political culture that respects diversity, transparency, human rights, Indigenous participation, and self-governance.”
YAN sees the postelection period as an opportunity for political stabilisation, provided that economic and institutional reconstruction are prioritised. According to Naren Khatiwada, “I hope that the elections will restore constitutional normalcy. A stable and accountable government with a clear reform agenda would be crucial to rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic governance.”
FEDO also highlights the importance of securing the participation of marginalised communities after the elections. In their view, “beyond the electoral process, long-term progress will depend on policies and actions that address inequality, strengthen institutions, and build public trust in democratic systems.”
SUS considers the current moment both risky and full of possibilities. The organisation stresses that democracy can grow stronger if new leadership responds to society’s heightened demands for justice. Bimala Gayak and Shiva Hari Gyawali summarise the hopes of the civil society from their perspective: “there is hope that the energy of Gen Z, the courage of LGBTIQA+ candidates, and the persistence of civil society will push political actors toward greater accountability and transparency. If post-election leadership prioritises inclusion, justice, and dialogue over division, this moment could become a turning point toward deeper democratic participation.”
Based on these messages, Nepal’s future depends on whether the new government can build a political culture founded on trust, inclusion and respect for human rights. The elections may act as a catalyst for a new chapter, but only if post election actions meet the expectations of the public.