Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues Seventh Session Geneva, 25-26 November 2014 "Forum on Minority Issues "Preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities". Agenda 4: Improving prevention of violence and atrocity crimes. Statement b : Dan Bahadur Bishwokarma, Nepal - OHCHR 2014 Minorities Fellowship Programme Mr Chairperson Distinguished delegates and colleagues, First, I would like to thank the OHCHR for giving me the opportunity to be part of the 2014 Minority Fellowship Programme and to participate in the 7th session of the forum on Minority issues. Let me introduce myself, my name is Dan Bahadur Bishwokarma. I belong to Dalit community and here represent Dalit Welfare Organization (DWO), a Minority NGO working in protection and promotion of Dalit rights in Nepal since 1994. It is hard to believe for many, that even in the 21 century the concept of purity and impurity based on birth exist. However, it is reality for millions of Dalit people living in the South Asia. Dalit people are the most excluded and experience untouchability on a daily basis. Let me highlight the some of the Dalit human rights challenges which require attention by Nepalese State and the international community.  By the early 2015, as committed by political parties, Nepal's constitution will be promulgated; However, this is a challenging moment in guaranteeing special measures for the promotion and protection for all minority groups.  Lack of effective implementation of the Law Caste based discrimination and untouchability (2011 ) have not contributed substantially in reducing practice of caste discrimination and untouchability.  Dalit women face double discrimination: as women and as Dalit minority. They are frequently targeted to rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment.