The Nationall Action Plan on Business & Human Rights was developed in alignment with national provisions and commitments to human rights, as well as international human rights standards like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) – the most authoritative and widely adopted set of principles for responsible business, unanimously endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. It outlines expectations and duties of the government and businesses in Nepal to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights through a comprehensive set of actions across six thematic areas – labour rights, migrant workers’ rights, consumer protection, environment and Indigenous People’s rights, women and children’s rights, and non-discrimination, gender and social inclusion.

The NAP is the outcome of collaboration between Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and UNDP in Nepal, and other partners, supported by the Government of Japan and the Government of Norway. Before embarking on the separate plan of action, the initiative was initially identified as one of the key actions under the national human rights action plan introduced by the government of Nepal in 2020.