- Nepal’s LGBTQIA+ community launched "Mission 84" in Pokhara to secure meaningful institutional representation and leadership ahead of the 2084 elections.
- Fifty activists participated in leadership training to transition from being a mere "vote bank" to active candidates in local and provincial elections.
- The initiative demands genuine participation in policymaking, urging political parties to move beyond symbolic inclusion toward transformative democratic leadership.
- Organizers aim to equip gender and sexual minorities with the skills and confidence to overcome social barriers and contest elections with integrity.
Pokhara, Kaski: Nepal's gender and sexual minority community has formally launched an ambitious long-term political campaign titled "Mission 84," signalling a new phase in its pursuit of meaningful political participation and leadership ahead of the country's next elections.
The campaign aims to move beyond symbolic inclusion and secure institutional representation for the LGBTQIA+ community at all levels of government by encouraging qualified members of the community to actively participate in electoral politics and policymaking.
The initiative was announced during a two-day closed-door political leadership training programme in Pokhara, where 50 political activists from Nepal's seven provinces gathered to strengthen their political knowledge, leadership skills and electoral preparedness.
The participants included members of various political parties, individuals preparing to join political parties, and aspiring independent candidates. Many said they are preparing to contest the upcoming local and provincial elections, adding that the time has come for the community to move from being political spectators to political leaders.
The training programme was organised under the "Breaking Barriers (Breaking Political Barriers)" project, funded by the European Union, coordinated by ActionAid, and implemented jointly by Mayako Pahichan Nepal, Inclusive Forum Nepal, and Lead Nepal.
Community Calls for Meaningful Political Representation
Speaking during an interaction with journalists, participants said political parties have historically treated the LGBTQIA+ community primarily as an electoral "vote bank" rather than recognising it as an equal political stakeholder.
They urged political parties to stop viewing gender and sexual minorities merely as a source of votes during elections and instead provide them with meaningful opportunities to participate in leadership, policymaking and decision-making.
The participants also appealed to the media to give greater prominence to issues concerning the political rights and representation of gender and sexual minorities, arguing that responsible media coverage can play an important role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy discussions.
According to the participants, Nepal is home to an estimated 900,000 to one million gender and sexual minority citizens. They argued that a community of this size should no longer remain politically underrepresented.
"We are fully capable of contributing to social transformation, democratic governance and national development," the participants said. "Political parties should not limit us to ordinary party membership. We deserve opportunities to contest elections and contribute to policymaking."
Equal Opportunities, Not Symbolic Inclusion
Participants expressed concern that political parties often promise election tickets to members of the LGBTQIA+ community during election campaigns but rarely fulfil those commitments.
They argued that representation should not be limited to symbolic or token appointments intended merely to demonstrate inclusiveness. Instead, they called for genuine participation in legislative bodies, executive positions and policy-making institutions.
"We are prepared to contest elections. Political parties should not hesitate to nominate candidates from our community. Economic hardship should never become a reason to deny capable individuals the opportunity to stand for election," participants said.
Many also noted that members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to face multiple barriers—including discrimination, limited financial resources and social exclusion—which significantly reduce their opportunities to participate in electoral politics despite constitutional guarantees of equality.
Politics Must Be Guided by Integrity
Participants emphasised that politics rooted in ethical values is more sustainable than politics driven solely by short-term political gains.
They said that while electoral success may be temporary, leadership founded on honesty, integrity, truthfulness and public trust provides the foundation for lasting democratic governance.
The participants also observed that although Nepal has made constitutional progress in promoting inclusion since the promulgation of the 2015 Constitution, transformative political inclusion remains limited in practice.
According to them, decision-making continues to be concentrated among a relatively small political elite. They argued that changes in political leadership have not necessarily resulted in changes in political culture, while nepotism, favouritism and influence-based decision-making continue to prevent the emergence of transformative leadership.
Inclusive Leadership Essential for Democratic Transformation
The participants stressed that sustainable democracy requires leadership that reflects Nepal's social diversity.
They said inclusive political leadership should ensure meaningful participation by people of all castes, ethnicities, genders, regions and communities, particularly those that have historically been marginalised, including women, Dalits, persons with disabilities and gender and sexual minorities.
According to the participants, state institutions should reflect the country's social diversity. Leadership that embraces diverse voices, they argued, is better positioned to eliminate discrimination and prejudice, encourage new ideas and innovation, and ensure inclusive national development.
They maintained that equal opportunities for all citizens, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are essential to strengthening democracy, promoting social justice and building an inclusive society.
Sunil Babu Pant Calls for a New Generation of Political Leaders
Speaking during the training programme, Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal's first openly gay member of the Constituent Assembly and Executive Director of Mayako Pahichan Nepal, said the country is witnessing the emergence of its first generation of politically trained LGBTQIA+ leaders.
Pant encouraged participants to develop a thorough understanding of Nepal's Constitution, laws, public policies and political system while maintaining continuous dialogue with political parties.
He said the lack of meaningful political representation has prevented many constitutional rights guaranteed to gender and sexual minorities from being effectively implemented.
"The era of being consistently left behind must come to an end," Pant said. "Our community must now move into positions of leadership. Political parties should move beyond token representation and ensure meaningful political participation."
Pant also conducted practical sessions on political ideology, party constitutions, public speaking, campaign communication and strategies for effectively presenting political agendas to voters.
Preparing for the 2084 Elections
Organisers said the training programme is part of a broader effort to prepare members of the LGBTQIA+ community for Nepal's 2084 (2027) elections, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to participate effectively in democratic politics.
Participants described the two-day programme as highly productive, saying it had significantly improved their confidence in public speaking, political communication and policy advocacy.
ActionAid representative Sabnam Pokharel commended the participants for their enthusiasm and active engagement and briefed them on the objectives, implementation strategy and long-term vision of the Breaking Barriers project.
As Nepal continues its efforts to strengthen inclusive democracy, organisers said initiatives such as Mission 84 aim to ensure that gender and sexual minorities are recognised not only as voters but also as leaders, lawmakers and decision-makers capable of contributing meaningfully to the nation's democratic future.
