Advocating for Change in Nepal’s Adult Entertainment Sector

The United Nations Human Rights Council has a powerful role to play in addressing the worst forms of child labour. Accountability mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – which work to support Member States to improve their human rights situation – are therefore widely seen as important opportunities to advocate for change. Ahead of Nepal’s third UPR cycle in 2021, the CLARISSA programme met with eight UN Permanent Missions to present recommendations addressing the exploitation of children within Nepal’s adult entertainment sector. This spotlight story shares the programme’s experience in advocacting within this process. It also highlights their approach of providing decision makers with recommendations to the Government of Nepal that were underpinned by the importance of integrating a participatory, adaptive and child-centred approach.