Introduction communities over others still exist such as the criminalisation of the slaughter of cows. In 2018/19, 34 such cases have been registered in the Supreme Court. Acts of religious conversion are prohibited by the Constitution and reports of arrests on charges of conversion continued. Some pro-Dalit policies were also introduced such as the government providing land to landless Dalits, and the government of Province 2 drafting a bill proposing full scholarship to all Dalit students in higher and technical education as well as ration cards and health benefits. Dalits, however, report facing both structural and physical violence in their communities as seen by Dalits, including lawmakers being denied accommodation in the capital, being barred from shops and being confined to specific areas during festivals and celebrations. Nepal has been hailed as a leader in South Asia vis-à-vis the rights of sexual minorities, with 1500 individuals receiving their citizenship as per their desired gender category as ‘others’ till 2019. Yet, sexual minorities reported facing discrimination, even at home. The 2017 Civil and Criminal Codes continue to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman despite a recommendation in 2015 by the Supreme Court that same-sex marriage be legalised. Pakistan In Pakistan, Christians, Hindus, Ahmadiyas, Balochs and Pashtuns are under attack, by both state and non-state actors. But, the lack of data prevents a thorough analysis of the situation and also works against planning for action against discrimination toward minorities. The country’s vaguely formulated blasphemy law, in which a conviction is followed by a mandatory death sentence, targets religious minorities disproportionately and is in many instances used to settle personal scores. The year 2019 saw increasing instances of attacks against religious minorities. There were reports of private buildings displaying signs saying ‘Selling or renting any apartment in this building to nonMuslims is prohibited’; and shopkeepers have forbidden services to Ahmadiyas and Shias. A ranking government official was even forced by a horde of students to apologise for calling for equal rights and harmony with the Ahmadiya community. xlix