NIICE holds 32nd dialogue on youth, accountability and Nepal’s future

KATHMANDU: Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) hosted the 32nd session of its dialogue series on January 6. The session focused on 'Youth, Accountability and Nepal’s Future' at the institute’s Hattiban headquarters in Lalitpur.

The discussion was moderated by investigative journalist and lawyer Dilrukshi Handunnetti and featured Gen‑Z activist Prakriti Dhakal, NIICE research associate Bibek Dhoj Thapa, and Deekshya Illangasinghe, Executive Director of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), as panellists.

Handunnetti opened the session by examining recent protests and political shifts across South Asia, framing the conversation around regional patterns of dissent, state behaviour and democratic transitions.

“The Gen‑Z protest was not spontaneous; rather, it was a culmination of long-standing grievances,” Thapa said, urging a closer look at recurring patterns of human rights abuse. He warned that brutal repression often follows predictable cycles and called for alternative, non‑lethal riot‑control assets and strategies instead of forceful suppression.

“Collective force, when united for positive change, can create a real impact,” activist Dhakal said, describing the movement as one aimed at structural reform and the emergence of young leadership rather than merely regime change. She also addressed political party practices, noting that while restructuring of proportional representation (PR) lists suggests greater openness to scrutiny, representation — especially for women — remains unclear and inconsistent.

Illangasinghe stressed the need to rebuild public trust in institutions and political parties ahead of upcoming elections, and reiterated that elections should remain the primary democratic pathway forward.

“There needs to be certain pressure for internal reforms to take place within political parties. The sane and constructive young people should take the lead,” Dhakal added. “If we want to ensure non‑recurrence of violence and unrest, we need to address the root causes of the protest.”

The event concluded with a question‑and‑answer session and the handover of a report by SAHR titled, 'Nepal at a Democratic Crossroads: A Human Rights Assessment following the September 2025 Unrest'.