By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 26: The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, is scheduled to visit Nepal to examine the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty. Issuing a press statement here on Wednesday, the UN informed that the UN Special Rapporteur will visit Nepal from November 29 to December 9.
"Nepal has taken impressive steps to reduce multidimensional poverty in recent years,” said De Schutter, an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council to monitor, report, and advise on poverty and human rights.

“I welcome the government’s commitment to further reduce it by more than half and to cover 60 per cent of the population with some form of social protection by 2024. My visit will be an opportunity to assess progress towards these goals and recommend how the government can best support those in poverty,” he said.
As Nepal recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and landslides, and begins to implement constitutional provisions to protect the most vulnerable, De Schutter plans to look at the adequacy of the social protection system, including protections for the estimated 77 per cent of informal workers in the country, the statement read.

Other issues include how Nepal guarantees access to land without discrimination, and the situation of groups disproportionately impacted by poverty.
De Schutter will hold policy roundtables and meetings in Kathmandu and in Karnali and Lumbini provinces, as well as Province 2. He will meet with national and local government officials, individuals and communities affected by poverty, as well as international and civil society organisations.

The visit of the Special Rapporteur is grounded on extensive input and research in advance of the mission, including a review of publicly available information, more than 30 advance consultations with Nepali organizations and experts, and a dozen written submissions from researchers, civil society, international organisations, and others.

At the end of his visit, the Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary conclusions and recommendations at a news conference in person which will be live-streamed at 12:00 noon on December 9 local time. Physical access will be strictly limited to journalists who will be sent details in advance. Details will also be available on the Special Rapporteur's website.
The final report of the Special Rapporteur will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2022.