Resolution on Youth Mobilisation, Digital Freedoms and Political Accountability in Nepal

1. Acknowledging that youth constitute a significant proportion of Nepal’s population, and that young people are increasingly politically aware, digitally connected and demanding dignity, transparency and accountability.
2. In September 2025 in Nepal, large-scale youth-led protests, driven by what has been
3. called the “Gen Z” movement, were triggered by a sweeping government ban on dozens of social media platforms, in a context of widespread dissatisfaction with corruption, nepotism and limited economic opportunities for young people.
4. Concerned by reports of the heavy use of force by security services, fatalities and mass unrest, which underline the urgency of addressing the structural grievances of youth, and protecting their civic and digital rights.
5. Recognising that youth activism is a positive indicator of democratic engagement, but that without effective response it can lead to instability, repression or co-optation.
6. Reaffirming IUSY’s commitment to youth empowerment, digital rights, participatory democracy, and anti-corruption measures.

Operative Clauses:

7. Condemns any disproportionate use of force, arbitrary restriction of civic space or digital shutdowns as a means of silencing youth voices or political dissent.

Calls upon the government of Nepal and all political actors to immediately:

8. Remove any remaining or future undue restrictions on social media, online communication platforms and digital expression of youth;
9. Conduct a full, independent, transparent investigation into allegations of excessive use of force, including killings and injuries of youth protesters, and ensure accountability for perpetrators;
10. Establish meaningful youth-participatory mechanisms for policy-making on digital rights, employment, education and governance reform.

Urges the government to adopt a youth-centred agenda addressing:

11. Economic opportunity and decent work for young people, especially given high youth unemployment and under-employment;
12. Structural reform to combat corruption, nepotism and elite capture, which youth protests have highlighted as key impediments to their future;
13. Strengthening of digital literacy, safe online engagement and inclusion of youth from marginalised and rural communities.

Encourages IUSY and its Asia-Pacific members to:

14. Exchange experiences of youth movements, digital mobilisation and participatory democracy across countries, to build stronger networks of young socialists working for digital rights and good governance;
15. Provide solidarity to Nepali youth activists, including platforms for their voices, training in democratic organising, and cross-border campaigns on digital freedom;
16. Lobby regional and global bodies (e.g., United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International) to monitor compliance with youth and digital rights standards in South Asia.
17. Requests that IUSY adopt and incorporate in its Asia-Pacific strategy a “Youth Digital Rights & Accountability” dimension, with particular focus on countries where youth mobilisation is rising in response to governance deficit and digital repression.
18. Affirms our solidarity with all young people in Nepal and the region who demand a future of dignity, democratic participation, transparency and equal opportunity.