New law on caste-based discrimination!

United Nations human rights officials and their counterparts in Nepal today welcomed a new law prohibiting discrimination against people who are considered members of low castes and are known as “untouchables” or “Dalits.”

The Bill on Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability that was passed yesterday had been before Parliament for the past two years, according to a joint statement issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) and the country’s National Dalit Commission.

The new law states that caste-based discrimination and untouchability practices are prohibited in both public and private spheres, and increases punishments for public officials found responsible of discrimination.

It also requires perpetrators to provide compensation to victims and criminalizes incitement for caste-based discrimination