June 2025 – The Federation of Indigenous Women of Nepal in America (FIWNA) successfully hosted its fifth virtual interaction series, focusing on “Indigenous People, Business, and Human Rights.” The event featured Durga Mani Yamphu, a prominent human rights advocate, as the keynote speaker.

In his presentation, Yamphu provided a comprehensive overview of how globalization and multinational corporations have impacted Indigenous communities around the world. He discussed widespread violations of Indigenous rights—ranging from labor exploitation to environmental degradation and public health risks—caused by unchecked corporate activity.

Yamphu cited the case of Shell in the Niger Delta as an example of corporate abuse, referencing the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) led by environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. He also highlighted the efforts of the UN Human Rights Council, which appointed Professor John Ruggie in 2005 to develop global standards for business and human rights. This led to the formation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), structured around three pillars: Protect, Respect, and Remedy.

He emphasized that every business must obtain Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from Indigenous communities before operating on their lands, in accordance with ILO Convention 169 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Yamphu explained that:

• The Protect pillar requires states to safeguard Indigenous rights.
• The Respect pillar obligates businesses to uphold those rights.
• The Remedy pillar provides avenues for justice if violations occur and the state fails to act.

During the interactive segment, several Indigenous leaders and advocates raised concerns:

• Kalpana Bhattachan (NIWF) questioned the construction of a cable car in Muktinath, a sacred Indigenous site, by a private company.
• Purna Bahadur Magar voiced concerns over the military’s presence in Indigenous regions under the pretext of cultural preservation.
• Shobha Sunuwar, General Secretary of NIWF, stressed the need for unity in defending Indigenous rights.
• Yassokanti Bhattachan, FIWNA Advisor, referenced a Supreme Court order mandating that all government mechanisms comply with ILO Convention 169 and UNDRIP. She also proposed developing a practical human rights checklist for community use.
• Professor Krishna Bhattachan criticized the Nepali government for siding with corporate interests instead of protecting its Indigenous population and raised issues concerning the rights of Indigenous migrant workers abroad.

In response to these inputs, Yamphu acknowledged the concerns and expressed his commitment to continued dialogue with communities, ensuring broader engagement in future sessions.

Indira Chongbang the president of FIWNA had moderated the event and concluded the session by highlighting its significance, thanking the participants, and affirming FIWNA’s plan to continue these vital discussions every two weeks.