Amnesty International Nepal’s 17th National Youth Mela kicks off

May 9, Kathmandu: Amnesty International Nepal (AI Nepal) is organising the 17th edition of its annual Youth Mela in Bharatpur, Chitwan, from 9 to 11 May 2025. The three-day national gathering brings together over 100 young people from across Nepal, representing diverse youth networks, groups and individual members affiliated to AI Nepal.

Staying true to its mission of empowering young people in the human rights movement, this year’s Youth Mela will focus on the theme of digital rights, namely “Digital Inclusion: Ensuring Voice, Accessibility, and Privacy.” Through interactive sessions and workshops, participants will strengthen their understanding of human rights and gain practical tools to campaign on critical issues such as digital rights, transitional justice, and LGBTQI+ rights, AI Nepal said in a press release.

The Mela will open today with a reflective session marking 16 years of Youth Mela and celebrating the contributions of youth networks. The opening day will also feature a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of digital spaces, with speakers including disability rights activist Ashmita Devkota, feminist lawyer and researcher Dikshya Khadgi, and journalist Lokendra BK.

Activist Praneta from Brihat Nagarik Andolan, Swastika Mali, activist and member of a family of enforced disappearance during the armed conflict; and Rukshana Kapali, an LGBTI rights activist, will also join the programme, along with Santosh Sigdel, Executive Director of Digital Rights Nepal, as resource persons. The event will conclude with an international solidarity action on 11 May calling for an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, underscoring Amnesty International’s commitment to international solidarity.

Since 2006, AI Nepal has organised the Youth Mela as a platform to educate, inspire, and mobilise young activists. Over the past 16 years, more than 1,600 youth have participated in this flagship program.

Each year, the Mela brings together over 100 participants from across the country. AI Nepal is part of a global human rights movement of over ten million members and supporters and has been active in Nepal since 1969. Today, AI Nepal has over 6,000 members nationwide, organised through various groups, networks and individual membership.

The organisation works to promote and protect human rights in Nepal—advocating for the rights of migrant workers, women, Dalits, and other marginalised communities—and campaigns for truth, justice, and reparation. As part of its international advocacy, Amnesty Nepal also stands in solidarity with individuals at risk around the world.