Nepal has created a new ministry dedicated to recognizing and supporting sexual minorities, marking a significant step towards more inclusive policies for the LGBTIQ community. The government, under Prime Minister Balendra Shah, has officially named the ministry as the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security. This ministry’s mandate includes safeguarding and promoting the welfare, empowerment, and progress of gender and sexual minority groups, along with other marginalized communities.
The decision to establish this ministry aligns with the Government of Nepal’s efforts to enhance the rights and representation of gender and sexual minorities within the country’s governance structure. The restructuring of federal ministries, as outlined in the Nepal Gazette, was based on recommendations put forth by a committee led by Govinda Bahadur Karki, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Additionally, the ministry formation process led to a reduction in the total number of ministries from 21 to 18, in accordance with the committee’s suggestions.
The move has been met with enthusiasm from the LGBTIQ community in Nepal, with the Blue Diamond Society expressing joy over the government’s acknowledgment of the rights and inclusion of sexual minorities. This development is seen as a significant milestone towards ensuring the meaningful integration of gender and sexual minority issues into the national governance framework. The advocacy efforts of Bhumika Shrestha, a lawmaker representing the sexual minority community, were also commended by the group for their role in advocating for the ministry’s establishment focusing on sexual minorities.
