Our Journey
The Story of Resilience
NIDWAN's journey began in 2003, rooted in Pratima Gurung's personal experiences of structural discrimination.
She raised ethnicity as one of the key layers of identity contributing to the exclusion of persons with disabilities. Together with the late Lom Maya Tamang, they emphasized understanding intersectional identities to unite groups across multiple layers of identity.
20+
YEARS OF ADVOCACY
Milestones
2011 – 2014
- Shaped Informal early conversations, network on disability and intersectionality
- Created linkages between global and local platforms, focusing on Indigenous peoples, women, and people with disabilities
2015
- Participated in UNFCCC-COP 21negotiations, integrated Indigenous Peoples, Women, and Persons with Disabilities section in the preamble of the Paris Agreement - a milestone UN normative framework
- Included Indigenous persons with disabilities for the first time in the 2nd World Indigenous Conference Outcome document on Indigenous Peoples - a milestone normative framework
2016
- Intervened in the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) representing all CSOs from Nepal's first Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report, and discussed on marginalized groups - a milestone representation
- Collaborated with Gov of Nepal and the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN), a milestone working in partnership
- Inicitated climate change, inclusive education, and post-disaster recovery community discussion
2016 – 2019
- Focused on social and cross-movement collaboration and international collaborations
- Submitted CEDAW and CRPD reports and received Concluding Observations from UNCRPD and CEDAW on Indigenous persons/women with disabilities for the first time- a milestone state obligation.
- Anchored research, intercultural and intergenerational dialogue, and set good examples of cross-movement collaboration
2020
- Initiated COVID-19 response and relief, recovery, and pioneered digital conversation and advocacy during the pandemic
- Advanced seminar on intercultural issues, emerging issues like COVID, disability, indigeneity, gender groups’ safety, inclusive support, accessibility, and outreach
- Kicked off Climate change research and videos from the community level, with evidence-based research leading to advocacy
2021
- Conducted research on inclusive education, climate change, and assessments with ADB & World Bank
- Collaborated with academia like American University and contributed to international journals - a milestone knowledge production
2022
- Organized Side events at COP-24- 25, 26
- Conducted research on the nexus of Climate Change and SRHR
- Participated in the 2nd World Conference of Indigenous Women and integrated women with disabilities- a milestone achievement of movement building
- Contributed to the Indigenous World Book with the section on Indigenous Persons with Disabilities - a milestone in knowledge production
2023
- Pioneered regional movements and regional research on Indigenous Persons with Disabilities from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal- a milestone in regional knowledge production
- Hold a National-level Climate Dialogue on Indigenous women and girls with disabilities
- Hold regional discussion from 10 countries and established Asia Pacific Indigenous Women with Disabilities Network (APIWDN) - a milestone movement building
2024
- Received the first UN normative framework, CEDAW GR39, dedicated to Indigenous Women and Girls with Disabilities- a milestone achievement
- Participated in COP 28 and received UNFCCC accreditation as the first OPDs of Nepal
2025
- Received the first Special Rapporteur Report on Indigenous Persons with Disabilities 2025 - a milestone normative standard
- Celebrating NIDWAN’s 10-year journey
- Formulated and integrated Intersectional Intentities and UNCRPD compliance legal language in The Gandaki Provincial Act on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the first time - a milestone achievement