KATHMANDU, Nov 11: Former Constituent Assembly member Sunil Babu Pant has said that sexual and gender minorities communities were deprived from standing in the November 20 general elections, and called for correcting the provision in future.

In an interaction on 'political participation and protection of the sexual and gender minority community' organized by the Federation of Sexual and Minorities Nepal today, Pant said that the Election Commission (EC) should correct the decision.

Pant said that even though the Ministry of Home Affairs has given citizenship to the sexual and gender minorities in their name, the EC has not recognized it. Healso demanded proportional and inclusive representation and leadership of the sexual and gender communities.

CPN (Maoist Center) leader Parshuram Tamang emphasized on the need to increase sexual and gender minority community's control and access to the economic, social and political rights.

Former EC Commissioner Ila Sharma said that sexual and gender minority communities should not be discriminated against during election campaigning.

Journalist Babita Basnet emphasized that all forms of violence, discrimination and abuse against the sexual and gender minorities should be ended.

At the program, rights activists advocating on behalf of the sexual and gender minority communities demanded the implementation of the recommendations received from the universal periodical review, including citizenship, same-sex marriage, implementation of the Constitution, and the implementation of the Supreme Court's decision.

 
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