This year’s international day has offered opportunity to indigenous leaders of Nepal to work hard in ensuring indigenous people’s rights in the constitution, though it is very challenging. In view of achievements in the past, including ratification of ILO Convention 169, Nepal is expected to enjoy a rights-friendly constitution The 9th of August since the United Nations General Assembly for the first time marked in 1994, is being commemorated annually as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, including UN headquarters in New York. It is a special day for the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples and those working for the rights of indigenous peoples. The UN for the year is all set to shed light on the issue of indigenous peoples’ access to health as their health remains a critical challenge globally. Moreover, the UN has scheduled to launch ‘The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Volume II as a part of this special event. It provides important background information on the issue and helps human rights defenders for research, advocacy and campaigns. Locally, indigenous peoples commonly known as aadivashi-janajati continue their fight for their rights and identity. They are now deeply concerned over the draft constitution being promulgated soon. They strongly demand to ensure incorporation of their rights along the lines of international human rights instruments, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), ILO Convention No 169 and other treaties and conventions. For them, identity matters the most and they vowed not to give up their distinctive identities. In order for indigenous people to empower for their rights, the UN has been playing a vital role since the indigenous champions set off their journey to fight for their rights. On this occasion, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recognizing distinctive identities of indigenous people has said that “the interests of the indigenous peoples must be part of the new development agenda in order for it to succeed.” He added, “Let us work even harder to empower them and support their aspirations.” The aadivashi-janajati has been legally recognized in Nepal by the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities Act, 2002. They continue campaigning as indigenous people’s rights that are enshrined in the international human rights instruments have not been taken into consideration during constitution drafting process. With the 34 point concerns and recommendaitons over the draft constitution they celebrated International Day of the World’s Indigenous People with a series of street events as the draft constitution has not even ensured the rights granted under the Interim Constitution for indigenous people. This violated an agreement reached with the indigenous people in the past. Despite the current political landscape, Nepal’s aadivashi-janajati are thrilled with landmark achievements since last 21 years at the global level with the establishments of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2000 and the appointment of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples. The indigenous movement helped significantly in adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in September 2007. It also contributed considerably to the establishment of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in 2007. But in Asia in particular systematic discrimination, conflicts, exclusion, untold suffering and widespread violation of human rights continue. The Asian Indigenous People’s Pact (AIPP), a Thailand-based organization, has been established to serve as a forum for sharing ideas and experiences, consolidating cooperation and enhance capacities of indigenous communities all over Asia. Nepal’s four indigenous people’s organizations (IPOs) among others are members of AIPP where 47 organizations from 14 Asian countries so far work together and it continues to grow. In Nepal,  A mass gathering with placards and cultural costumes in Kathmandu and other parts of the country on the International Day would send a strong message to the Constituent Assembly to ensure their rights in the constitution.The weeklong event was kicked off with a press conference in Kathmandu and others activities planned and posted earlier are being undertaken. This year’s international day has offered opportunity to indigenous leaders of Nepal to work hard in ensuring indigenous people’s rights in the constitution, though it is very challenging. In view of achievements in the past, including ratification of ILO Convention 169 and legal recognition of indigenous people, Nepal is expected to enjoy a rights-friendly constitution. International agencies, including the UN, AIPP and others rights-based organizations as usual would support Nepal in relation to rights related issues. It is therefore high time to recognize distinctive identities of indigenous peoples and listen to their concerns which ultimately help in promotion of peace and prosperity.