Kathmandu, 10 July 2026, Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), under the SANKALP: Together for Children's Rights project, organized a policy dialogue with Members of Parliament (MPs), government representatives, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), development partners, and youth representatives to strengthen the protection and promotion of the rights of children with disabilities in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2017.
The dialogue brought together 45 participants including Member of Parliaments, CSOs and other stakeholders , creating a platform for constructive discussions on legislative reforms, accessibility, inclusive governance, and meaningful participation of children and persons with disabilities in policymaking.
During the discussion, participants highlighted several pressing issues affecting persons with disabilities, including the need to shift from charity-based approaches to a rights-based framework, improve accessibility of government documents and draft legislation, strengthen inclusive education, and expand Nepal Sign Language and other measures of reasonable accommodation to ensure equitable access to information and services.
Youth representatives emphasized the importance of ensuring accessible educational materials, equitable access to resources across all provinces, and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in policy development. They also called for stronger government support for the development and official recognition of Nepal Sign Language.
Members of Parliament expressed their commitment to advancing disability-inclusive laws and policies. They emphasized the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities are meaningfully represented in decision-making processes, expanding opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, and fostering closer collaboration between Parliament and disability rights organizations. The MPs also encouraged stakeholders to submit practical written recommendations that could help shape future legal reforms and contribute to ongoing constitutional review processes.
Representatives from civil society organizations further highlighted the importance of accessible schools, rehabilitation services, and family support systems to improve the well-being of children with disabilities. They stressed that disability inclusion should be integrated across all sectors rather than addressed as an isolated issue.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to continue collaboration between BYAN, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders. As a follow-up, BYAN proposed to establish an informal communication platform to facilitate ongoing dialogue, share policy recommendations, and strengthen collective advocacy for the rights of children and persons with disabilities.
Through initiatives such as this policy dialogue, BYAN continues to advocate for inclusive policies and meaningful participation, ensuring that the voices and rights of children and young persons with disabilities are reflected in Nepal's legislative and policy processes.
Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), implemented the projects “Youth Initiative for an Accessible Electoral System” and “Disability Access Monitoring Program” from August 2021 to Dec. 2022 across nine districts of Nepal, covering all seven provinces.
The project aimed to strengthen political participation, voter education, and leadership of youth with disabilities, while advocating for a more inclusive and accessible electoral system for persons with disabilities.
Summary of Key Results
- Established strong coordination with the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) and District Election Offices
- Created employment opportunities for 11 persons with disabilities, strengthening skills in technology and project management
- Sensitized 26 newly elected Members of Parliament on disability-inclusive political participation
- Developed 15 Master Trainers (9 women with disabilities) and 176 District Trainers from 12 districts
- Directly reached 4,490 young persons with disabilities through training, mock polling, and door-to-door voter education
- Sensitized 172 district-level stakeholders including political leaders, election officials, and civil society
- Conducted 79 advocacy engagements with ECN, election offices, local governments, and political parties
- Produced and disseminated accessible voter education materials (Braille, large print, easy-to-read formats)
- Produced misinformation and disinformation PSAs in six local languages and two PSAs on accessible polling stations
- Reached 468,870 people through social media campaigns
- Secured local government budget allocation for voter education in Sundar Haraicha Municipality (Morang) and Butwal Municipality
- Supported appointment of 17 PWD volunteers in polling stations across Chitwan, Jhapa, and Rupandehi
- All major national political parties included PWD candidates in proportional representation lists
- Conducted election access monitoring of 100+ polling stations across 10 districts mobilizing the persons with disabilities.
- Developed and disseminated comprehensive report on situation of Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Election, 2022.
We successfully concluded a two-day residential workshop in Nepalgunj, bringing together youth-led organizations from Karnali, Sudurpaschim, and Lumbini provinces. It was inspiring to learn about their impactful works in their communities and their dedication to empowering youth.
Through leadership sessions and discussions, we explored the challenges of youth political participation and discussed the potential solutions to overcome these barriers.
The in-depth discussions in youth civic engagement, the role of evidence-based advocacy and RTI in active civic participation, advocacy for inclusive and accessible election, and youth intervention in the policy-making process paved the way for generating future action plans and advocacy priorities.
We are deeply inspired by the energy and commitment of these young changemakers, and we look forward to seeing their continued efforts to strengthen youth political engagement.