Annex I – Voices at the local level Citizenship Affected People’s Network (CAPN) from Nepal 1. What motivates you to uphold, protect, or promote human rights? (This may include, for example, work promoting women’s rights, LGBTI rights, rights of minorities, labour rights, environmental rights, children’s rights, housing rights, migrants’ rights, health rights, etc – this list is non-exhaustive). Please give examples. CAPN is motivated by its vision to achieve gender equal citizenship rights for women and for the children of single mothers in Nepal. It is driven by the motivation to eradicate Nepal’s persistent gender discriminatory citizenship laws, which deny Nepali women the independent right to confer citizenship upon their children or spouse, in parity with men. This discrimination is rooted in the patriarchal social and legal structure that believes the family lineage or descent only flows through men. Despite significant strides the Nepali legal system has made in ensuring women’s rights, women continue to hold a secondclass status when it comes to legal identity, the root of one’s legal and social inclusion, and legal standing. Founded and led by individuals with lived experience of these challenges firsthand, CAPN is dedicated to advancing dignified and gender equal citizenship rights and supporting affected individuals holistically. The belief that no one should endure the distress of being denied belongingness to one’s own country and of identity or face such challenges alone drives CAPN’s work on human rights of individuals and communities across its intersectional landscape. Civil society in Nepal was previously viewed with a degree of cautious acceptance, but this perception has shifted significantly in recent weeks. Following the mass protests on September 8 and 9, the dissolution of the House of Representatives, and the Prime Minister’s resignation, an interim government has been formed. These political changes have fueled widespread speculation that the events were influenced by foreign intervention and that the interim government is being swayed by foreign powers. This narrative has led to a surge in nationalist rhetoric and heightened public suspicion of NGOs and CSOs. While human rights work is not explicitly restricted, an indirect but powerful force driven by politicized narratives, social beliefs, and corruption has created significant friction, making it increasingly challenging for civil society actors and human rights defenders to work effectively. NGOs and human rights advocates are now seen in a more negative light than before, particularly by certain government officials and sections of the public. Given the current political context, where narratives of foreign intervention are dominating public and political discourse, the possibility of CAPN coming under greater scrutiny has increased significantly. Citizenship is a highly politicized and security-sensitive issue in Nepal, and any organization working in this space can easily become a target of suspicion. As the environment becomes more volatile, there is also a real risk of increased restrictions or crackdowns on organizations like ours. 2. Do you believe your work is contributing to the creation of a more equal, more just, or fairer society in which you live? Please give examples for your answer. Yes. Citizenship is the gateway to all rights. It is the right to have rights. Its denial pushes people and society towards marginalization and invisibility. Those without citizenship lack access to education, employment, social security, and most critically, recognition by the state, which leaves them without state protection of fundamental rights. Our advocacy for gender equal citizenship rights in Nepal and for its constitutional guarantee along with individual case support to affected individuals have significantly contributed to the creation or rather to the goal to achieve a more equal, more just and fairer society in which we live. Our work at CAPN strives to bring social change and advocate for legal reform to empower women with the right to confer citizenship. This not only uplifts women but also ensures protection and 7