HRC47: Oral Statement for the Outcome of Nepal’s Universal Periodic Review

This oral statement on the Outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Nepal was broadcasted at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council. Watch the video here.

Thank you, President.

YUWA makes this statement on behalf of the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women and Right Here Right Now Nepal in collaboration with the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome the government’s acceptance of recommendations on decriminalisation of abortion and the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights of all through universal access to quality and adolescent-friendly health services and the full integration of comprehensive sexuality education for all.

However, we are deeply concerned by the inattention to the issues on the existing statutory limitations on rape cases and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities, including the refusal to adopt marriage equality legislation.

The existing provisions of citizenship and binary definition of marriage impede sexual and gender minorities from enjoying their fundamental rights to citizenship, employment and marriage. Necessary amendments are required in the definition of marriage and mandated medical reports need to be eliminated from provisions of the citizenship bill. With the statutory limitations of one year for rape case registration and the rapid rise in rape cases during humanitarian crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, it is urgent that the government eliminate this provision. We also urge the government to ensure stronger commitments for youth sexual and reproductive health and rights and the implementation of Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2018.

We call on the Ministry of Education and its constituent bodies to develop and implement a comprehensive curriculum for both in and out of school settings that aligns with the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. For the ambitious goals to be realised, it is vital that young people are meaningfully involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national plans and programs. We also urge the government to enact policies to ensure meaningful and inclusive youth engagement in all the advocacy and accountability processes and to safeguard everyone’s access to sexual and reproductive health services and information across the country.

Endorsements:

  1. YUWA
  2. Restless Development Nepal
  3. CDS Park, Mugu
  4. Association of Youth NGOs in Nepal (AYON)
  5. Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC)
  6. Visible Impact
  7. Blue Diamond Society (BDS)
  8. Youth Action Nepal (YoAC)
  9. Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Nepal (FSGMN)
  10. Yuwalaya

Vietnam

  • Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Indonesia

  • Aliansi Satu Visi (ASV);
  • CEDAW Working Group;
  • Hollaback! Jakarta;
  • Institut Kapal Perempuan;
  • Kalyanamitra;
  • Komnas Perempuan;
  • Remaja Independen Papua/Independent Youth
    Forum Papua (FRIP/IYFP);
  • Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI);
  • Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta;
  • Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi;
  • RUTGERS Indonesia;
  • Sanggar SWARA;
  • Women on Web;
  • Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP); 
  • YIFOS Indonesia

Maldives

  • Hope for Women
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)
HRC47: Oral Statement for the Outcome of Nepal's Universal Periodic Review

This oral statement on the Outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Nepal was broadcasted at the 47th session of the Human Rights Council. Watch the video here.

Thank you, President.

YUWA makes this statement on behalf of the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women and Right Here Right Now Nepal in collaboration with the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome the government’s acceptance of recommendations on decriminalisation of abortion and the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights of all through universal access to quality and adolescent-friendly health services and the full integration of comprehensive sexuality education for all.

However, we are deeply concerned by the inattention to the issues on the existing statutory limitations on rape cases and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities, including the refusal to adopt marriage equality legislation.

The existing provisions of citizenship and binary definition of marriage impede sexual and gender minorities from enjoying their fundamental rights to citizenship, employment and marriage. Necessary amendments are required in the definition of marriage and mandated medical reports need to be eliminated from provisions of the citizenship bill. With the statutory limitations of one year for rape case registration and the rapid rise in rape cases during humanitarian crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, it is urgent that the government eliminate this provision. We also urge the government to ensure stronger commitments for youth sexual and reproductive health and rights and the implementation of Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2018.

We call on the Ministry of Education and its constituent bodies to develop and implement a comprehensive curriculum for both in and out of school settings that aligns with the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. For the ambitious goals to be realised, it is vital that young people are meaningfully involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national plans and programs. We also urge the government to enact policies to ensure meaningful and inclusive youth engagement in all the advocacy and accountability processes and to safeguard everyone’s access to sexual and reproductive health services and information across the country.

Endorsements:

  1. YUWA
  2. Restless Development Nepal
  3. CDS Park, Mugu
  4. Association of Youth NGOs in Nepal (AYON)
  5. Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC)
  6. Visible Impact
  7. Blue Diamond Society (BDS)
  8. Youth Action Nepal (YoAC)
  9. Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Nepal (FSGMN)
  10. Yuwalaya

Morocco

  • Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF),
  • Morocco Family Planning Association

India

  • CommonHealth;
  • Love Matters India;
  • Pravah;
  • Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC);
  • SAHAYOG;
  • Sahaj;
  • Sahiyo;
  • SAMA – Resource Group for Women and Health;
  • WeSpeakOut;
  • The YP Foundation (TYPF)

Lao PDR

  • Lao Women’s Union;
  • The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Health
    Sciences (UHS)

Sri Lanka

  • Bakamoono;
  • Women and Media Collective (WMC),
  • Youth Advocacy Network – Sri Lanka (YANSL)

Malaysia

  • Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM);
  • Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG);
  • Justice for Sisters (JFS);
  • Reproductive Health Association of
    Kelantan (ReHAK);
  • Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM);
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Maldives

  • Hope for Women;
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Myanmar

  • Colourful Girls Organization;
  • Green Lotus Myanmar

Nepal

  • Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC);
  • Blind Youth Association of Nepal;
  • Blue Diamond Society (BDS);
  • Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA);
  • Visible Impact;
  • Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC);
  • YPEER Nepal;
  • YUWA

Pakistan

  • Aahung, Centre for Social Policy Development (CSPD);
  • Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI);
  • Gravity Development Organization; Green Circle Organization;
  • Indus Resources Center (IRC);
  • Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aaghai (ITA);
  • Rehnuma – Family Planning Association Pakistan;
  • Shelter
    Participatory Organisation;
  • Shirkat Gah;
  • The Enlight Lab

Philippines

  • Democratic Socalist Women of the Philippines (DSWP);
  • Galang;
  • Healthcare Without Harm;
  • Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities;
  • Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health;
  • Nisa UI Haqq Fi Bangsamoro;
  • PATH Foundation Inc. (PFPI);
  • Women’s Global Network for
    Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Singapore

  • End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
  • Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Mongolia

  • MONFEMNET National Network