US spl envoy Stern set to visit India & Nepal to promote human rights of LGBTQI+ community

Jessica Stern, a special envoy of US, will embark on a 8-day trip to India and Nepal in order to promote human rights of LGBTQI+ community. visit beginning on August 10 will last until August 14 in Nepal followed by her India visit from August 23 to 27. According to a press release by US State Department, Stern during her visit will meet with government officials and or stakeholders to discuss vancing human rights of LGBTQI+ people in each country.

An junct professor at Columbia University, Stern was previously executive director of OutRight Action International based in New York. According to White House, she holds expertise in working with LGBTQI+ community, and people with non-conventional sexual orientation, to ensure y avail basic human rights. Stern has also "provided expert opinions to governments globally, regional human rights institutions as well as UN mechanisms," according to US State Department. She also helped expand UN General Assembly resolution to include gender equality and co-founded LGBTQI Core Group.

Nepal becomes global LGBT rights beacon: Report

Nepal became a global LGBTQ rights beacon after in 2020 it included community in census ending long battle for recognition as a part of society. political shift from a Hindu monarchy to a secular republic paved way for 'third gender' to become more visible and vocal, Diplomat reported. In 2007, Nepal Supreme Court gave a landmark verdict, thus, decriminalising LGBTQI+ orientation. This also led to a column of 'or gender' in voter rolls of 2010, furr ding same category to census and for passports. Such moves over time brought spotlight on Nepal, with Human Rights Watch hailing policies, calling Kathmandu "a global LGBTQ+ rights beacon."

Although, a report by Diplomat stated that ground reality for LGBTQI community in Nepal is murkier on ground. community still faces discrimination from larger spectrum of society, especially government institutions. LGBTQI people are deprived of employment in civil service, army, and police forces due to absence of category ‘O’ in recruitment forms. Also, category ‘O’ appeared to bind all- lesbian, gay, queer, etc. under one wide group without recognising m separately.

(Image: AP/PTI)