Press Release by Blue Diamond Society

Welcoming the Government of Nepal’s Decision to Explicitly Include Gender and Sexual Minorities in the Ministry’s Name and Mandate

Blue Diamond Society warmly welcomes the decision of the Government of Nepal to explicitly include Gender and Sexual Minorities in the newly renamed Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Protection, which was authenticated by the President of Nepal and officially published in the Government Gazette today. This is a historic and long-awaited milestone for Nepal’s gender and sexual minority communities. It reflects the Government’s recognition of the rights, dignity, and inclusion of gender and sexual minorities within the national governance framework.

Today, BDS  recall the tireless efforts of Blue Diamond Society and the broader LGBTQI+ movement in Nepal  with our Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities of Nepal that made this achievement possible. For many years, BDS has continuously engaged in advocacy, policy dialogue, and consultations with the Government of Nepal, including with the former Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, on issues affecting LGBTQI+ communities, including children and youth. These sustained advocacy efforts have been witnessed and supported by many stakeholders.

This success was not achieved alone. We deeply value the solidarity and support of our allies, supporters, development partners, and human rights defenders who stood with us throughout this journey.

At the same time, BDS has continuously engaged with political parties to advance the rights of gender and sexual minorities. As a result of years of collective advocacy, many political parties have now included gender and sexual minority issues in their political manifestos. We also proudly acknowledge that our former colleague, Bhumika Shrestha, has become a Member of Parliament and has played an important role in advancing this cause.

Today, we celebrate this important achievement and are encouraged to see our issues formally recognized within a government ministry’s name and mandate. This marks an important step toward meaningful inclusion.

We express our sincere gratitude to the Government of Nepal, Hon. Bhumika Shrestha, our allies, supporters, and all those who contributed to achieving this milestone.Our journey, however, continues. We remain committed to working toward comprehensive legal reform, inclusive policies, and effective implementation that translate these achievements into meaningful change at the grassroots level for all gender and sexual minorities across Nepal.

Finally, we thank our national, regional, and international partners and supporters who have trusted and stood with us—even during the most challenging times. Your solidarity has strengthened our resilience and resolve.

Manisha Dhakal 

Executive Director 

Blue Diamond Society 

Nepal 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/bluediamondsocietynepal/posts/blue-diamond-society-sincerely-thank-and-welcome-the-decision-of-the-government-/1431954148966986/