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Promoting Rights, Inclusion, Dignity and Enhanced political participation of LGBTIQ+ individuals in Nepal 

PRIDE project empowers and amplifies civil society initiatives for strengthening effective and inclusive political representation and meaningful participation of LGBTIQ+ communities in Nepal. It focuses on building the capacity of rights-holders, generating evidence for effective advocacy leading to inclusive party statutes, manifestos, and institutional practices, fostering safe and more respectful political spaces of the targeted LGBTIQ+ communities. The approach places a rights-based framework at its core and applies an intersectional and collective lens, ensuring inclusion of women, youth, Dalits, Janjati communities.

PRIDE project orientation and detail implementation plan development workshop
© European Union, 2026

Objective/Goals:
PRIDE’s overall objective is to empower and amplify civil society initiatives that foster the meaningful participation and representation of LGBTIQ+ communities in Nepal's political landscape (processes and structures).

The specific objective is to strengthen the voice of LGBTIQ+ communities and civil society organisations (CSOs) to engage effectively with relevant government agencies and political parties at the provincial (Madhesh, Lumbini, Bagmati and Sudurpaschim) and the federal level, ensuring meaningful participation and representation of LGBTIQ+ communities in the political space of Nepal.

Context: 
Despite Nepal’s progressive constitutional guarantees, LGBTIQ+ communities continue to face discrimination, stigma, and exclusion from social and political space. The Constitution of Nepal (2015) guarantees rights to citizenship aligned with gender identity (Article 12),  equality (Article 18), and social justice (Article 42), yet, meaningful inclusion of LGBTIQ+ communities remains limited. 
A 2022 survey by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal found that 68% of LGBTIQ+ individuals had never participated in political activities due to fear of discrimination. Correspondingly, only 183 of 17.7 million registered voters in the 2022 local elections were recorded under the “other” gender category (Election Commission of Nepal). 
The EU-funded PRIDE project responds by strengthening the capacity of LGBTIQ+ communities and CSOs, generating evidence for advocacy, and promoting  engagement with duty-bearers to advance inclusive political participation and representation.

Real Problem: 
Despite progressive legal provisions, LGBTIQ+ communities face persistent structural and socio-cultural barriers to political participation. Discrimination, stigma, and limited institutional sensitivity hinder the realisation of rights. State institutions, election authorities, and political parties often lack understanding SOGIESC issues, reflected in the absence of LGBTIQ+ priorities in policies manifestos. 
Electoral systems remain largely binary, excluding non-binary and transgender individuals. Administrative barriers in obtaining citizenship and voter IDs aligned with self‑identified gender further restrict political participation. A substantial gap between community estimates of the LGBTIQ+ population and official census data indicates under‑reporting driven by fear of discrimination and low trust in state systems. Limited political literacy, weak enforcement of laws, and insufficient capacity of election officials continue to reinforce exclusion.

Expectations/promise (what would happen if? What if?) 
If LGBTIQ+ communities strengthen their knowledge of political processes and build capacity to engage in decision‑making – supported by robust evidence for advocacy, state actors and political parties will be better positioned to respond.

This can lead to more inclusive party statutes, manifestos, and institutional practices, fostering safe and more respectful political spaces. Ultimately, the project is expected to contribute to increased political participation and representation of LGBTIQ+ individuals, alongside the adoption of more inclusive policies and legal frameworks across public institutions,  including the Election Commission of Nepal.

Solution: 
This project will strengthen knowledge of civil and political rights among LGBTIQ+ communities and allied CSOs through tailored resources, mentorship, and capacity building. It will support youth leadership development and enable safer engagement in political spaces. 
It will also create platforms for dialogue among civil society, political parties, and government actors to promote inclusive policies and practices. Evidence-based advocacy and partnerships with women, Dalit, Janajati, and youth networks will foster collective action. 
Strategic media engagement and storytelling through digital and physical platforms will raise awareness, influence key stakeholders, and challenge societal norms that limit LGBTIQ+ political participation.