Activities on base of CBD Program done by FIKA
9 August 22 2018, an 8-point memorandum was handed over to the Ministry of Forest and Environment, concerning the Access and Benefit Sharing bill already prepared by the Ministry.
- The bill concerning genetic resources, access, use, and benefit sharing must be discussed with IPs as soon as possible.
- Provision must be in place concerning nomination by their representative organizations of the Indigenous peoples to nominate 50% representatives of the IPs at different levels to participate in the ABS bill.
- Lawful Participation of IPs in the implementation of CBD must be ensured.
- Completely proportional participation of IPs in the field of management, strategic working points of the National Park, and wildlife reserve and Ramshar areas must be guaranteed.
- At the provincial level, Indigenous biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity and natural preservation territory must be established.
- Provision must be in place regarding assistance necessary to be given by the state to the committee formed concerning biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
- Work plan be developed to ensure economic and technical assistance for the participation of IPs, regarding biodiversity and environment at Federal, Provincial, Local and International levels.
- National work plan be developed to lawfully guaranteeing the contributions made by the IPs to the nature preservation of and biodiversity.
- The Ministry was requested to implement the ABS Bill by incorporating our suggestions contained in the 8-point memorandum as well as in our 10-point memorandum submitted to the Ministry, on 25 January 2019; Ministry of Forest and Environment had drafted the ABS bill to table in the parliament.
- Having known this, the Federation of Indigenous Kirat Association demanded with the ministry that the bill be discussed thoroughly with all the concerned IPs in light of the CBD-8(j). The ministry agreed to our demand and the bill was thoroughly discussed between the ministry and the IPs.
- On 4 September 2019: the Access and Benefit Sharing bill (ABS) was drafted by the Ministry of Forest and Environment sans consultation with the indigenous peoples. The Federation of Indigenous Kirat Association (FIKA) demanded with the Ministry that the Bill be thoroughly discussed with the IPs prior to presenting to the parliament. The Ministry agreed to our demand and with the assistance, it was discussed among the ministry, IPs, and legal experts.
- 15 September 2019: Based on the discussion, FIKA made a number of suggestions to include in the draft for improvement concerning IPs’ rights. FIKA submitted its suggestions to the Ministry and requested the Ministry for its implementation. But, so far the bill has remained pending.
- In addition to biodiversity, human rights, and climate change, FIKA has been deeply engaged in the fight for protecting the self-identity of many of the Indigenous and minority groups, who have been discriminated by the government. After the restoration of Democracy in 1990, the people of Nepal enjoyed some social freedom they started forming NGOs and running them to campaign for their rights to mother tongue, religion, self-identity, freedom of speech, and economic and political rights as well. A large number of people were under the suppression of the few affluent people.