The Supreme Court of Nepal has ruled that the government must scrap away laws that discriminate against homosexuals. The sexual minorities in Nepal have long complained about the discrimination.
By order of Nepal’s Supreme Court, sexual minorities should and must be guaranteed the same rights as other citizens. This rule was deemed a victory for campaigners advocating gay rights in Nepal. Many parts of South Asia are still conservative and frown upon homosexuality.
While homosexuality isn’t specifically criminalized in Nepal, there is a legal loophole regarding that. An “unnatural sex act” at the moment carries a one year prison term. In Nepal, homosexuality could be considered an unnatural act of sex.
Human rights advocates said that the unnatural sex act provision is an excuse to justify arrests on the gay and transgender community of Nepal. The gay and lesbian community has complained about sexual discrimination for a very long time.
Two of the judges said: “
The government of Nepal should formulate new laws and amend existing laws in order to safeguard the rights of these people.
“
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex are natural persons irrespective of their masculine and feminine gender and they have the right to exercise their rights and live an independent life in society.”
Sunil Babu Pant, president of the Blue Diamond Society advocating for the sexual minorities of Nepal said: “
There were no specific laws to protect the rights of sexual minorities but the Supreme Court’s decision has opened the doors to enjoy our rights.”
The government had given no immediately response to Friday’s ruling.
Nepal Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Gay Rights
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