Nepal “sets a new standard for LGBTI rights” - from Pink News - all the latest gay news from the gay community

Nepal "sets a new standard for LGBTI rights"

By Tony Grew • December 21, 2007 - 19:20

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) congratulated Nepal's LGBTI organisations on today's ruling.

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Nepal's gay rights organisation has released a statement celebrating the Supreme Court's decision to grant equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people.

Blue Diamond Society's Sunil B Pant said he was extremely happy and proud" of the court's decision, which the group hopes will mean a revolution for gay people in the Himilayan country.

"It is believed that LGBTI will enjoy, today onward, all the rights according their sexual and gender identities as other genders enshrined by the Constitution of Nepal and human rights conventions in which Nepal is a State Party," said Mr Pant.

"The Court issued directive orders to the Nepal government to ensure rights to life according to their own identities and introduce laws providing equal rights to LGBTIs and amend all the discriminatory laws against LGBTI's rights as well.

"On the issue of same sex marriage, The Court has also issued directive order to form a seven-member committee, with a doctor appointed by Health Ministry, one representative from National Human rights commission, the Law Ministry, one socialist appointed by government of Nepal, a representative from the Nepal police, a representative from Ministry of Population and Environment and one advocate as a representative from the LGBTI community, to conduct study about the other countries' practice on same-sex marriage.

"Based on the seven-member committee recommendation, the government will make appropriate law.

"We, all LGBTI Nepalese, are extremely happy and proud on Supreme Court whose decision is extremely progressive on such a difficult issue for our society, especially on the matter of gender identity.

"This is the first time ever any Supreme Court has spoken such a positive manner on gender identity issues ever on the world. We salute our honorable judges Balaram KC and Pawan Kumar Ojha."

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) congratulated Nepal's LGBTI organisations on today's ruling.

"You have set a new standard for LGBTI rights around the world."

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