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Sexual minorities fighting ‘final battle’
KATHMANDU, MAY 15 -
Nepal’s sexual minorities have said they are fighting the “final battle” for the protection of their rights.
In a statement issued on the occasion of International Day against Homophobia, Asia’s only openly gay lawmaker Sunil Babu Pant said a successful promulgation of the new constitution would make Nepal the first country in the region to constitutionally guarantee the rights to all minorities, including the sexual ones, ending their struggle for rights.
“The draft prepared by the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles Committee of the Constituent Assembly has adequately addressed the rights of sexual minorities. And there has not been any disagreement among the lawmakers about granting the rights,” said Pant, adding he was optimistic that the parties would soon be able to bring out the constitution.
Most of the constitutions, said Pant, in the world have addressed the issues concerning right to proper identity, right to inheritance of property, right against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the right to social protection by the state.
The 2007 Supreme Court ruling that asked the government to formulate laws to guarantee the rights of the sexual minorities has largely contributed to the struggle for rights by sexual minorities.
The committee formed to recommend legal measures to address the court concern is yet to submit its report.
The Blue Diamond Society and three other groups filed the successful lawsuit in 2007 demanding the government recognise the civil rights of transgender (or “third gender”) people without requiring them to affirm one gender identity instead of another; create a new law forbidding discrimination and violence against LGBTI communities; and require the state to make reparations to LGBTI victims of state violence and discrimination.
In its 2007 ruling, the Court found that LGBTI people are ‘natural persons’ and that they deserve the same protections as everyone else.
Posted on: 2010-05-16 08:08
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