The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), together with its Nepali member organizations, Advocacy Forum (AF) and Conflict Victims’ Society for Justice (CVSJ), expresses deep solidarity with the youth, students, and citizens of Nepal who are facing violent repression for exercising their democratic rights.
In a span of less than 24 hours, Nepal has witnessed unprecedented protests led predominantly by young people, widely called the “Gen Z” movement. Sparked by widespread condemnation of the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children which were seen as symbols of deep rooted corruption and inequality and later fueled by the government’s sudden ban on 26 social media platforms, thousands of young people and children took to the streets in Kathmandu and other cities.1 At least 19 people have been killed and more than 100 injured after police used live rounds, rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons against peaceful demonstrators who had gathered near the parliament in Kathmandu, though informal sources suggest the actual toll is higher and many remain missing. Witnesses described chaos and brutality as curfews were imposed in several districts and protesters, many of them students, were beaten and dispersed including some unverified incidents of disappearance. This is one of the deadliest crackdowns Nepal has seen in decades.
The United Nations has voiced alarm. The UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal called the events “so unlike Nepal” and warned that casualty numbers may rise, stressing that civilians, especially young people, must be protected. The UN human rights office has demanded a transparent investigation into the killings and reminded authorities that security forces are obligated under international law to respect the principles of necessity, proportionality, and restraint.3 Nepal’s civil society, including the Accountability Watch Committee, has also strongly condemned this act of brutality.
These events show a dangerous shrinking of civic space in Nepal and a severe violation of the right to life, liberty, and security of the person as guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and reaffirmed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (BPUFF). Citizens who were demanding accountability, freedom of expression, and an end to corruption have instead been met with violence. AFAD condemns this brutal response and affirms that peaceful assembly and free expression are fundamental rights under Nepal’s Constitution and its international obligations.
AFAD calls on the Government of Nepal to:
- Release all individuals detained solely for participating in peaceful protests.
- Launch an independent investigation into the killings, injuries, and arrests, and hold those responsible accountable.
- Respect the right to free expression and peaceful assembly, including access to digital platforms without fear of reprisal.
- Open a genuine dialogue with young people and citizens to address corruption, inequality, and governance failures.
AFAD urges the international community, regional partners, and civil society networks to stand with the youth and people of Nepal. The voices of young people must be heard, not silenced with bullets. Justice, accountability, and reform are the only paths toward peace and democracy. AFAD further calls on the government to immediately lift the imposed curfew in major cities, which restricts public demonstrations.