Kathmandu, November 4, 2026 — A project aimed at increasing the political representation and leadership of sexual and gender minorities in Nepal has been launched to expand their access to policymaking and decision-making processes.
The project, titled Breaking Barriers, is being implemented with financial support from the European Union through a collaboration between ActionAid International Nepal, Lead Nepal, Samabeshi Manch Nepal and Maya Ko Pahichan Nepal.
Running from 2026 to 2029 across all seven provinces, the initiative seeks to move members of sexual and gender minority communities beyond the role of voters and enable them to participate as political party members, leaders, candidates, elected representatives and policymakers.
At the launch event, ActionAid Executive Director Sujita Mathema said meaningful inclusion required changes in policies, intentions and everyday practices.
Although inclusion had been discussed for years, its implementation remained limited, she said. Inclusion should be reflected not only in documents and slogans but also through meaningful participation and leadership in social, economic and political life.
Mathema said the project's success would represent a collective achievement for Nepal, rather than that of the European Union, ActionAid or any single organisation. She also stressed the need to translate commitments to inclusion into practical action.
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Former Constituent Assembly member and Maya Ko Pahichan Nepal Executive Director Sunil Babu Pant described the initiative as important for developing political leadership and representation among sexual and gender minorities.
Launched under the message “Our Rights, Our Voice, Our Leadership and Our Future”, the project aims to help community members move from demanding rights to taking leadership roles and influencing decision-making, Pant said.
He called on political parties to ensure meaningful participation of sexual and gender minorities, from party membership to leadership positions. Although Article 42 of the Constitution recognises the community under the right to proportional inclusion, Pant said adequate legal and institutional arrangements had yet to be established.
He pointed out that the Civil Service Act does not provide reservations for the community. Similarly, electoral laws and legislation governing political party registration do not contain sufficient provisions to guarantee their representation. Pant said the Election Commission had already drawn the attention of relevant authorities to these issues through recommendations.
Political parties must go beyond making commitments to inclusion in their statutes, manifestos and policies, he said, and ensure participation from grassroots membership to central leadership.
“Governments are formed by political parties, and most representatives in Parliament also come through political parties. Therefore, inclusion must begin within political parties, which should provide its strongest foundation,” Pant said.
According to Pant, around 50 people from sexual minority communities have already received basic training in political literacy, leadership development, government operations, the role of the legislature, the functioning of the judiciary and electoral processes. They have also selected political parties according to their interests.
However, political parties have not openly welcomed them or encouraged their participation in party activities and policy discussions, he said.
Pant urged political parties to publicly invite members of gender and sexual minority communities to join their organisations, participate in party activities and engage in policy discussions.
A survey of 430 people from sexual minority communities across Nepal's seven provinces, conducted for the project, found significant gaps in political participation and representation.
According to the survey, 90.9 percent of respondents said political representation was inadequate, while 68.4 percent said they did not feel safe participating in political activities. Only 17.4 percent reported being affiliated with a political party.
The findings indicate that despite constitutional recognition of their rights, members of these communities continue to face limited access to political parties, leadership structures and policymaking institutions.
The project will focus on four main areas. It will develop political knowledge, capacity and leadership skills among community members; create mentoring opportunities with experienced political leaders and support political party affiliation and candidacy; identify legal, policy, social and institutional barriers to participation and advocate evidence-based reforms; and work with political parties, public institutions, elected representatives and other stakeholders to improve inclusive representation and access to decision-making.
The initiative also aims to challenge discrimination, prejudice and negative social attitudes through media engagement, public discussions, awareness programmes and collective campaigns.
The project targets direct engagement with around 3,000 people and aims to reach approximately 900,000 people through communication, advocacy and social transformation activities.
Although Nepal has made significant progress in recognising the identity and constitutional rights of sexual and gender minorities, translating those rights into meaningful political influence, leadership and participation in decision-making remains a challenge.
Limited access within political parties, social prejudice, discrimination, insecurity and institutional barriers have continued to constrain representation.
The project aims to turn constitutionally recognised rights into meaningful political participation, participation into representation, and representation into the ability to influence policies and decisions.