28/06/2025
Nepal's New Citizenship Bill: A Step Towards Gender Equality
In a significant move towards promoting gender equality, Nepal's government has recently passed a new bill allowing children to obtain citizenship through their single mothers. This progressive step aims to address the long-standing issue of citizenship rights for children born to Nepali mothers, regardless of their father's nationality or status.
Key Provisions:
- Children born to Nepali mothers, whether married or unmarried, can now acquire citizenship through their mother.
- The bill aims to eliminate the previous requirement of the father's citizenship or proof of the father's identity.
*Advantages:
1. *Promoting Gender Equality*: The bill ensures equal rights for men and women in conferring citizenship to their children.
2. *Empowering Single Mothers*: Single mothers can now provide their children with citizenship without relying on the father's nationality or status.
3. *Reducing Statelessness*: Children born to Nepali mothers and foreign fathers or unknown fathers can now acquire citizenship, reducing the risk of statelessness.
4. *Simplifying Citizenship Process*: The bill streamlines the citizenship process for children, eliminating unnecessary documentation requirements.
This new bill is a significant step towards promoting gender equality and empowering single mothers in Nepal. It also aligns with international human rights standards, ensuring that children are not denied citizenship due to their parents' marital status or nationality.
