Implement gender-sensitive policies

Kathmandu, Nov. 3

Only 31.6 per cent from the LGBTIQ+ community feel safe in political participation, while 68.4 per cent feel the otherwise, found a recent baseline-survey on political participation, representation and leadership of LGBTIQ+ people in Nepal.

About 91 per cent of the survey participants, of 430 respondents, said that the political representation is not adequate while only 9 per cent said the representation is enough. About 67.7 per cent know their political rights and 87 per cent have their voter registration, concluded the survey 'From evidence to action: Identifying gaps and driving reform' conducted by the Action Aid Nepal and the European Union.

In addition, 63.5 per cent faced difficulty in obtaining legal identity documents. Majority of them, 62.6 per cent are not affiliated to any political parties. The survey ranked awareness programmes on the top with 94.9 per cent respondents indicating to the need for such actions. Similarly, 91.4 per cent said anti-discrimination policies are needed, 91 per cent proritise political party inclusion, 90.5 per cent leadership training, 90 per cent for legal reforms and 86 per cent accorded importance to economic support.

The report recommended the government to strengthen implementation of legal provisions on citizenship, identity documents, non-discrimination and equal participation. It also suggested enhancing the capacity of public officials and elected representatives on the inclusion of gender and social minorities, and ensuring meaningful participation of LGBTIQ+ communities in planning, consultation, and governance processes.

"In the long term, institutionalising sexual-and-gender-responsive policies, planning, budgeting, and service delivery, and strengthening accountability for constitutional and legal protections are paramount," read the report.

Likewise, it recommended exploring affirmative measures to enhance LGBTIQ+ representation in governance and decision-making bodies.

The survey suggested the political parties to adopt and enforce inclusion and non-discrimination policies, increase engagement with the community and organisation, and investment in political literacy, leadership development and monitoring. Meanwhile, institutionalising LGBTIQ+ representation within party structures and leadership, and promoting inclusive candidate selection mechanism are also equally important.

Samiksha Baskota, chair of Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee at the House of Representatives, expressed her commitment to support in policy making process that promotes equal rights and political representation of the sexual and gender minorities.

 

'Breaking Barriers' launched

Organisations working in rights sector have launched 'Breaking Barriers' project in Kathmandu on Tuesday with the aim of increasing the access, meaningful leadership and inclusive representation of gender and sexual minority communities in Nepali politics.

The project has been initiated with financial support from the European Union, in collaboration with ActionAid International Nepal and its partner organisations: Maya ko Pahichan Nepal, Samabesi Manch Nepal and Lead Nepal.

According to Executive Director of Action Aid Nepal Sujeeta Mathema, the project aims to enhance the political representation and leadership of gender and sexual minority communities in Nepali politics. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to promoting the political participation, leadership development and meaningful representation of gender and sexual minority communities, as well as their inclusion in policymaking processes, read a statement from Action Aid Nepal.

Participants at the event expressed confidence that it would help make democratic governance more inclusive, accountable and just, while further strengthening national efforts to promote inclusive political participation. Stakeholders also expressed their solidarity with the initiative at its launch.

They also noted that although Nepal has made significant progress in recognising the rights and identities of gender and sexual minority communities, equal opportunities in political leadership and decision-making processes have yet to be ensured.

"The project envisions an inclusive democracy in which members of gender and sexual minority communities are not confined to the role of voters but can also become leaders, elected representatives and decision-makers," read the statement.

It will develop new leaders through political literacy, leadership development and mentoring, identify existing barriers and advocate policy reforms through research and evidence-based advocacy, promote inclusive structures and decision-making processes through dialogue with political parties, public bodies and other stakeholders, and work to change discriminatory attitudes and social prejudices through communication, awareness-raising and collective campaigns.

The project aims to turn the recognition of rights into meaningful participation, participation into representation, and representation into the ability to influence policymaking and decision-making processes.

The 3-year project will run till 2029, and aims to reach up to 3,000 people directly and have a broader positive impact on around 900,000 people.

Constituent Assembly member and Executive Director of Maya Ko Pahichan Nepal Sunil Babu Pant said the Breaking Barriers project aims to help gender and sexual minority communities progress from having their rights recognised to taking up leadership roles.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 4 November 2026.