Our Host Country
Nepal
Nepal is a mountainous landlocked country situated in south Asia. It is bordered by China on North and by India on east, south and west. With an area of 147,181 KM, Nepal has a population of 29164578 where there are 2928 sexual & gender minorities as per the census 2021. Kathmandu is capital city of Nepal. Nepal is secular state under the constitution of Nepal 2015. Nepal is the only country in the entire world with a Triangular shape national flag whereas all of the other country is the world have rectangular shape flag. Nepal has mind boggling altitudes, topography and climate and is the only country with altitudinal variation that ranges from less than 100 meters to 8848 meters. There are 4 seasons in Nepal. Spring (March-May). Summer (June- august). Autumn (September –November). Winter (December-February). Monsoon will start from mid-June until end of September.
Nepal is federal democratic republic country .The government system is a federal parliamentary republic, the chief of the state is the President and the head of the government is the Prime Minister. Nepal is divided into 7 provinces, 77 districts and 753 local bodies.
The significance of Nepal for the conference
Nepal is considered as LGBTIQ+ friendly country where Nepal constitution, promulgated in 2015, recognizes the rights of gender and sexual minorities’ people and explicitly mention on article 12; right to citizenship, article 18; right to equality and article 42; right to social justice. Nepal never been colonized and do not have anti-homosexuality law. Nepal has several encouraging court decisions for marriage equality, nondiscrimination and legal gender recognitions. Nepal has shown progress on legal gender recognition and marriage equality. People can choose non-binary as “Other” or binary as ‘male’ or “female” in the citizenship document. But these provision requires medical certificate. Recently, ministry of home affaires decided and circulated direction on temporarily marriage registration through 753 local government bodies. Nepal has shown its commitment by supporting Mandate of Independent expert on SOGI at human rights council and become a LGBTI core group member at United Nation. There are more than 40 lgbtiq organizations registered and working in various districts of Nepal. Blue Diamond Society who is the host organization of ILGA Asia Conference, has organized regional conference in Kathmandu several times before.
An overview of LGBTIQ advocacy efforts in Nepal
LGBTIQ+ movement was initiated publicly after establishment of Blue Diamond Society in 2001. HIV interventions was entry point of LGBTIQ+ movement in Nepal. Few LGBTIQ+ people come out in the public through ‘Gai Jatra” local festival in 2004 which had created greater visibility at the public. First ever, beauty pageant of gender diverse people was organized in 2004 publicly. Blue Diamond Society, Cruiseaid Nepal, Mitini Nepal, Parichaya Samaj and Queer Youth Group have been exercising public interest litigation on marriage equality, legal gender recognition and nondiscrimination. LGBTIQ+ organizations in Nepal are proactive to coordinate with different stakeholders including government and policy makers and success to receive domestic funding from federal, provincial and local governments. LGTIQ+ organizations in Nepal have shown greater visibility in yearly Nepal Pride Parade which was initiated in 2019 by Queer Youth Group and Queer Collective. There are 26 service sites for HIV prevention, care and treatment in Nepal run and driven by the community so far. LGBTIQ+ organizations has created greater support system through emergency situation; during the earth quake, pandemic and in any crisis situation. BDS has initiated nine ‘Respect Homes’ to support for the shelter for GBV survivor. There are regular programs on police sensitization to end violence against transgender sex workers community. LGBTIQ+ organizations in Nepal have played significant role at UN human rights mechanism to raise the issues at UN Nepal. Community organizations are also working with children, family and school for LGBTIQ+ friendly school environment. In addition organizations are engaging LGBTIQ+ youth through youth leadership programs. Media has also played significant role in advancing the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in Nepal. Now organizations are working on specific intersectional issues ; ‘ Campaign for Change’ for intersex issues , “Rainbow Disability Network” for disability issues are proactively working and supporting LGBTIQ+ movement in Nepal.