Nepal became a member of the United Nations through the adoption of Resolution A/Res/995(X) by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 14 December 1955. Nepal has remained active in the Organisation ever since, with a steadfast commitment to its purposes and principles, and anchoring multilateral diplomacy to realise a just, peaceful and equitable world order as set out in its Charter.

The Constitution of Nepal stipulates that the foreign policy of Nepal shall be based on the Charter of the United Nations, non-alignment, and principles of Panchsheel, international law and the norms of world peace.

Nepal maintains three Permanent Missions in New York, Geneva, and Vienna.

1. Nepal in the UN General Assembly

   Nepal has consistently accorded its relations with the United Nations a high priority, as reflected through the high-level representation—often led by the Head of State or Government—at the annual sessions of the General Assembly. Nepal first participated in the 11^th session of the UNGA in 1956, led by the then Foreign Minister Mr Chuda Prasad Sharma.

   The following United Nations Secretaries-General have visited Nepal at different times.

   Dag Hammarskjöld	16-18 March 1959
   U Thant	13-15 April 1967
   Kurt Waldheim	13-15 February 1981
   Javier Pérez de Cuéllar	6-9 March 1989
   Kofi Annan	12-13 March 2001
   Ban Ki-moon	31 Oct-1 Nov 2008
   António Guterres	29 Oct-1 Nov 2023

The United Nations is at the centre of Nepal"s multilateral diplomacy. Nepal actively engages across all three pillars of the UN: peace and security, development, and human rights and humanitarian affairs. Nepal has an abiding faith in the UN Charter; it firmly holds the view that the faithful adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN can ensure international peace and security. Nepal has been anchoring its diplomatic efforts in the UN in developing norms and rules to realise a comity of nations.

2.1 Peace and Security

Nepal holds the view that international peace and security must be upheld through a rules-based international order anchored in the UN Charter, the principles of non-alignment, Panchsheel, and the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.

Nepal"s call for time-bound, general and complete disarmament of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the United Nations reflects a fundamental tenet of our foreign policy.

Nepal has consistently championed the cause of decolonisation and disarmament within the UN system.

Nepal hosts the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament for Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) covering 43 States. UNRCPD promotes disarmament education, organises capacity-building programs for the implementation of global disarmament instruments and supports Member States in the region. Nepal advocates for strengthening the regional disarmament mechanisms to complement the global disarmament agendas for enhancing international peace and security. The UNRCPD in Kathmandu has revitalised the “Kathmandu Process” by facilitating dialogues for confidence-building in the region.

Furthermore, Nepal has been contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security through its consistent participation in UN-mandated peacekeeping operations since 1958. Nepal is one of the largest troop and police contributing countries.

Nepal is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, and it believes that the “Bandung Principles” are time-tested principles for peaceful international order, where all countries have equitable and dignified representation irrespective of their economic prowess or military might.

2.2 Development

Similarly, Nepal has played an active role in the development pillar, often leading to shape the international economic and financial order in favour of developing countries. As a member of G-77 & China, Nepal has firmly supported the reform of the global trading system and global economic and financial architecture to ensure fair and equitable opportunities to all developing countries.

Nepal currently serves as the President of the ECOSOC for the term 2025-2026, one of the important organs of the UN System dealing with various socio-economic and environmental issues. In this capacity, Nepal has emphasised leveraging the complementarities across various global policy frameworks to realise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nepal has integrated SDGs into its mainstream national policies and programmes with high priority. Nepal is implementing the SDGs and has submitted its Voluntary National Report at the 2017, 2020, and 2024 High-level Political Forum.

Nepal is set to graduate from the LDC Category in 2026. Nepal has prepared and is implementing a Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) to ensure a smooth, sustainable, and irreversible graduation.

Nepal also constructively contributed to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Seville in 2025. Nepal served as one of the four global co-facilitators alongside Mexico, Norway, and Zambia, responsible for negotiating and shaping the Sevilla Commitment.

Every year, as a member of G-77 & China, and individually, Nepal actively negotiates, cosponsors and plays its part to adopt a number of resolutions that shape the global development agenda and help accelerate the implementation of SDGs as well as other internationally agreed upon goals.

Nepal has also been consistently advocating for Climate Justice and calls for implementation of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), as Nepal has been bearing a disproportionate impact of climate change, including the melting of glaciers and climate-induced disasters, as compared to our negligible share in greenhouse gas emissions.

2.3 Human Rights

Nepal attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights. Nepal believes in an integrated approach to democracy, development and human rights. Nepal holds the view that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and merits equal emphasis.

The Constitution of Nepal guarantees a comprehensive set of civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights. The Constitution ensures no discrimination in the application of laws on the grounds of religion, race, origin, or ideology and such other matters.

Nepal remains firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights, and is party to twenty-four human rights instruments, including seven core human rights conventions (ICCPR, ICESCR, ICERD, CEDAW, CAT, CRC and CRPD), eleven ILO conventions, four Geneva Conventions on International Humanitarian Law, and two regional conventions.

Nepal served as a member of the Human Rights Council from 2018 to 2023 for two consecutive terms, and has presented its reports to the first, second, third and fourth cycle of Universal Periodic Reviews in 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2026, respectively. Nepal successfully completed its Fourth Cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the 51^st session of the UPR Working Group in Geneva in January 2026.

Nepal actively engages in the annual sessions of the Human Rights Council and cosponsors a number of thematic resolutions that advance civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.

3.1 Revitalisation of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

Nepal consistently advocates for further strengthening the UNGA as the UN"s principal deliberative and legislative body. Nepal supports the revitalisation of the UNGA and is in favour of improvements in its role as the central decision-making body. Nepal is against any encroachment to the legislative and policy-making functions of the UNGA. Nepal also supports the efforts to improve the working methods and streamlining its agenda. Nepal believes in revitalising the UNGA plenary and the six Committees in a balanced manner, but not one against the other.

3.2 Security Council (SC) Reform

Nepal holds the view that membership of the SC should be expanded in both permanent and non-permanent categories to reflect the contemporary reality. Maintaining its consistent position on UN reforms, Nepal continuously calls for a more representative, democratic, and inclusive UNSC that is responsive to the aspirations and needs of the international community, enabling it to handle the emerging global challenges.

The United Nations has been a longstanding and trusted development partner of Nepal, providing assistance in areas such as socio-economic development, governance, human rights, and disaster management. Its presence in Nepal can be traced back to 1951, even before Nepal became a UN member, when the Food and Agriculture Organisation started its work in Nepal.

At present, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kathmandu leads all UN agencies and entities, known collectively as the UN Country Team, working in Nepal. There are 18 UN agencies with resident offices, and a further 9 agencies have their programs in Nepal. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) provides the strategic framework for Nepal-UN partnership for the period 2023-2027.

As of today, Nepal has established diplomatic relations with 183 United Nations Member States, including the Holy See, the United Nations Observer State. Most recently, Nepal established diplomatic relations with Kiribati on July 17, 2024.

In its commitment to multilateralism, Nepal has taken various responsibilities in multiple UN bodies, inter alia, the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries and the President of the Economic and Social Council. Nepal will take the Chair of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) of the UN General Assembly during its 81^st session (September 2026 to September 2027).

Nepal held a non-permanent membership of the Security Council during the years 1969-70 and 1988-89. Nepal has submitted its candidature for the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the term 2037-2038, the election of which will be held in June 2036.

Nepal was elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2023, receiving the highest number of votes in its category. Following this, Nepal was elected as a Vice President of the Council for the 2024-25 term. In a historic milestone for Nepal-UN relations, Nepal has been elected to serve as the President of ECOSOC for 2025-26, marking the first time Nepal will hold this position. Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Mr Lok Bahadur Thapa, is the current President of the ECOSOC.

Similarly, Nepal has been actively engaged in the various UN bodies.

6.1 Current Positions

• Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries, 2023-2026
• Member of the ECOSOC, 2024-2026
• President of the ECOSOC, 2025-2026
• Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of UN Technology Bank
• Member of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries
• Bureau of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries
• Member of Peacebuilding Commission (2026-2027)
• Executive Board of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS for the term 2026-2028
• Member of Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) for the term 2026-2028 (Dr Suresh Raj Sharma, President of IAAC)
• Member (independent expert, Ms Bandana Rana) of the CEDAW Committee for 2025-2028
• Member (independent expert, Ms Roshani Pathak Adhikari) of the IUCN Regional Councillor for the term 2026-2029
• Member of UN-Women for the term 2025-2027

6.2 Nepal"s Current Candidatures

• Non-Permanent Seat of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2037-2038 (Elections to be held in June 2036)
• Human Rights Council for the term 2027-2029
• Economic and Social Council, 2029-2031
• Commission on Narcotics Drug, 2028-2031
• Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, 2028-2030
• Executive Board of the United Nations Children Fund, 2027-2029
• Chair of the First Committee for the 81^st session of the UNGA (Elections to be held in June 2025)

6.3 Nepal"s Previous Positions

• Member of the ECOSOC (1980-1982, 2003-2005; 2013-2015)
• Member of Human Rights Council (2018-2020, 2021-2023)
• Member, Organisational Committee of Peacebuilding Commission (2008-2010; 2011-2015; 2019-2020; 2023-2024)
• Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for the term 2020-2023
• Vice President of the 77^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (2022-2023) and for the 71^st session (2016-2017)
• Member of the Commission on Social Development (2008-11); President, 2013
• Bureau Member of the Group of the LLDCs (2010-2014)
• Bureau Member of the Group of the LDCs (2017-2022)
• Chair of Global Coordination Bureau of LDCs (2009-2012)
• Coordinator of the Consultative Group of the LDCs in the WTO (2013)
• Member of the Governing Body of the ILO from the Workers" Group (2005, 2011-2014)
• Member of the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS for the term (2014-2016)
• Chair of the 5^th Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) of the 70^th session (2015-2016)
• Member (Expert) of Committee Against Torture (CAT) for 2014-2017
• Member (Expert) of the Governing Body of the ILO (2014-2017)
• Member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation (2014-2017)
• Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO (2014-2017)
• Vice-Chair, Third UN Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2018)
• Vice Chair, UN Disarmament Commission (2018-2019)
• Member of the Committee on Conferences (2018-2021, Chair in 2018-2019 and Rapporteur 2019-2020)
• Member of the Executive Board of UNICEF (2016-2018, Vice-President in 2016 and 2017)
• Deputy Member of the Governing Body of ILO (2017-2020)
• Member of UN-Women for the term 2018-2020
• Member of the Credentials Committee (2019-2020)
• Chair of the Bureau of the Second Committee for the 75^th Session
• Member of the Bureau of the Sixth Committee for the 75^th Session
• Member of the Commission on Science and Technology (CSTD) (2019-22)
• Member of the Commission on Population and Development (2018-2022)
• Rapporteur of the Bureau of the Second Committee for the 76^th Session
• Member of Preparatory Committee (Prep Com) of the 5^th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries
• Bureau of the Preparatory Committee and Vice Chair of the 4^th United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (2024)
• Bureau of the Preparatory Committee of the 4^th UN Conference of Financing for Development (FfD4)
• Member of the Advisory Board on Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (LLS Advisory Board of UNGA 78^th Session)

Under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations and Specialised Agencies Division works to protect and promote Nepal"s national interest in the United Nations and other multilateral platforms. In this regard, the Division makes substantive preparations, plans, and performs functions related to the participation and representation of Nepal in conferences, sessions and meetings of the UN, its specialised agencies, and other multilateral bodies.

Its major functions are as follows:

1. Assist the government in the formulation and articulation of Nepal"s policies and positions on matters, among others:
   • A just, peaceful and equitable world order
   • Sustainable development
   • Human Rights
   • Climate change, including Mountain Agenda
   • Rights and interests of LDC/LLDCs
   • Equitable international trade
   • Increasing financial flows and technology transfer to developing countries
2. Functions related to substantive preparations, representation and participation of Nepal in sessions, conferences and meetings of the UN, and its specialised agencies.
3. Participation and representation of Nepal in the UN and UN-related organisations, as well as various groups such as G-77 and China, Non-Aligned Movement, LDCs, and LLDCs.
4. Preparations and arrangements of high-level visits and meetings, including the UNGA.
5. Drafting of concept notes, briefs, statements, speeches, press releases, talking points and records of talks for issues and meetings related to the Division.
6. Functions related to the General Assembly and its Main Committees, and the Subsidiary organs of the General Assembly.
7. Functions related to the Security Council, Economic and Social Council, and their subsidiary organs.
8. Functions related to UN peacekeeping missions and other missions.
9. Issuance of Credentials to the Nepali delegations.
10. Coordinate with line ministries and Nepali missions abroad on various multilateral issues, including submission of National reports to the UN and its Agencies.
11. Introduce new resolutions (International Wellness Day, etc.) and provide suggestions/inputs on other various UN resolutions.
12. Coordinate with the UN agencies in Nepal.
13. Work as the National Disarmament Authority of Nepal.
14. Make decisions on voting/supporting/accession.
15. Overseeing of Nepalese missions abroad related to the Division.