Culture & Lifestyle
Symposium held to shed light on diverse SOGIESC rights
The event consisted of seven sessions presented by representatives from the various participating organisations.Post Report
A one-day symposium titled ‘Spotlight on the Rights of Children and Youths with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Nepal’ was held at Hotel Himalaya, Kupondole on Monday.
The event was jointly organised by Blue Diamond Society(BDS), Save the Children Nepal, Social Workers Association Nepal (SWAN), and the Department of Social Work of Tribhuvan University.
“We[BDS] have been working in the area of LGBTIQ child rights with Save the Children since 2017. During the last five years, we have achieved some notable milestones, while some works are still left,” said Pinky Gurung, president of BDS. “The main objective of this programme is to recognise, discuss, and analyse the findings of various research related to our theme while providing suggestions and advice to the concerned stakeholders.”
Gurung further emphasised the need for more focus on the area of LGBTIQ and child rights in order to create an inclusive nation and to move society forward in an inclusive manner. Pointing out the binary physical infrastructures, rules, and policies in Nepali schools, Gurung said, “Gender-friendly toilets and seating arrangements are still not prevalent in our schools. Students who identify as part of the LGBTI community and showcase non-conventional gender expressions are not being able to live and study freely and, sometimes, even face discrimination from their peers and teachers.”
The event consisted of seven sessions presented by representatives from the various participating organisations. The sessions highlighted the issues of LGBTIQ children and youths through presentations, panel discussions, studies, and surveys related to the theme.