'More initiatives warranted for advancing sexual and gender minorities' rights'

Kathmandu, July 28: The Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee under the House of Representatives (HoR), Bimala Subedi, has called for more initiation on the part of parliament to deliver toward gender equality and social inclusion. 

During her address to a day-long national dialogue on the rights of gender and sexual minorities and the role of lawmakers, she spoke about the additional responsibilities of legislators from enacting laws  for the rights of sexual and gender minorities to their implementation. 

President of the Education, Health and Information Technology, Ammar Bahadur Thapa, said it is misfortunate that access of gender and sexual minorities to education and health sector is still unsatisfactory. He also pledged to focus on formulating inclusive polices ahead.  

The programme was a joint initiative of several organisations: Inclusive Forum Nepal, Mayako Pahichan Nepal, and Lead Nepal. It was attended by presidents of various committees under the federal parliament and lawmakers, civil society representatives, human rights activists and the stakeholders concerned. 

The participants echoed the need for legal reforms, increase in budget allocation, inclusive education and social awareness campaign to advance towards the rights of sexual and gender minorities. (RSS)