10 December 2019, Kathmandu
Interaction and Sharing Baseline Survey with member of parliamentarians on violence against Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender kicks off today marking the 71th International Human Rights Day. The interaction program was mainly focused on addressing the humanitarian issues of the sexual and gender minorities and the ways to reduce violence against the LGBTI community.
Executive director of Mitini Nepal, Sarita K.C. stressed that the program is scheduled to share the findings of the baseline survey which has been conducted on 200 lesbian, bisexual and transgender aged between 15-50 years in all seven provinces.
In another session, baseline Survey on violence against Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender was presented by Dinesh Sayami concluding that LGBTI community are still facing many challenges due to lack of knowledge, lack of legal provision, patriarchal mindset among others. Most particularly, 16-25 age group have been facing more violence as mentioned in the baseline survey. The survey also stressed on the ways to reduce violence against LBT by including sexuality education in syllabus and through radio TV programs relating to such community.
In the program, UN women representative has presented the baseline survey report stating that LGBTI rights are human rights and are visible so that they must be counted in the national census. Similarly, the program was opened for floor to share the bitter experience faced by those belongs to that community. Apekshya Dahal, Chandani Karki, Monika Tamang, Neelam Poudel and Subhasna Gurung have shared their experience demanding for non-discriminatory laws including equal right to education and employment most importantly.
Parliamentarians belongs to different committees- Khagendra Prasad Puri, Hit Bahadur Tamang, Khem Kumar Biswakarma, Mina Buda, Maya Devi Neupane, Nanda Chapai, Udaya Sharma, Yutol Tamang and Prakash Panta expressed their commitment to work for such sexual and gender minorities privileges to be constitutionally protected.
The international human right day this year was celebrated with a theme-“Foundation of sustainable development, human right for all.”
The one day interaction program ended with the closing remarks by the founder president of Mitini Nepal, laxmi Ghalan expressing her vote of thanks.
