19 November 2021, Kathmandu
Mitini Nepal, a non-governmental organization working for the rights of sexual and gender minorities, organized a discussion and interaction program with media persons on “Legal and Health Issues of Sexual and Gender Minority Communities” at Times Square, Baluwatar, Bagmati Province, Kathmandu on Friday.
Sarita K.C., Executive Director of Mitini Nepal has shared about the provisions of Nepal’s law relating to sexual and sexual minorities and their sexual and reproductive health and rights. The program also discussed the legal and health access of sexual and gender minorities.
In the context of the World Toilet Day 2021, Executive Director Sarita KC said that the community is facing various problems as there is still lack of LGBTI friendly rest room in Nepal. She said that the rights of the community protected in the constitution have not been implemented in a meaningful way and their human rights have been violated due to lack of knowledge among the law makers about the issues of the community.
Article 18 has guaranteed the right to equality and Article 42 has the right to social justice. ‘But sexual and gender minorities have not been able to get legal benefits as they do not have the right to marry even though they have the right to living together, ”said Executive Director KC.
“It is important to understand that the right of marriage of sexual and gender minorities is being violated by the state. Marriage is a relationship not only between men and women but also between individuals” she shared.
It has been shared that during the Corona outbreak, the government showed little interest in the health of sexual and gender minorities, and about 20 members of the community committed suicide during the lockdown.
Neelam Poudel, a transgender woman and a young woman leader shared, “Hormones needed for such people were not included in the essential medicines and they were subjected to discriminatory treatment by the health workers when they went to the hospital with health problems.”
Media persons Bishnu Pandey, Dhruva Rijal, Subash Chandra Giri, Keshav Bhatta, Sagar Budhathoki, Rasana Dhakal including others shared inquiries and suggestions on their behalf.
Program Officer of Mitini Nepal Nilam Dhungana gave a welcome speech highlighting the objective of the program while the program was facilitated by Bagmati Province Program Coordinator Swastika Pariyar.
The program was attended by community members, social mobilizers, Mitini’s staffs and most specifically media persons working in various media houses.
