Recognition of same-sex unions in Nepal

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Same-sex marriage is not recognized or performed in Nepal. In 2011 and 2012, as the country was undergoing a political transition, there was an attempt to add LGBT-inclusive language to the proposed constitution. However, negotiations among political factions failed in spring 2012 and the drafting of a new constitution was placed on hold until new elections were held. A constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly on 16 September 2015,[1] and while it includes several provisions pertaining to the rights of LGBT people, it does not address same-sex marriages.[2]

Foreign same-sex spouses of Nepali citizens are eligible for a "Non-Tourist Visa" as a dependant, following a 2017 ruling by the Supreme Court of Nepal.[3]

Legal history[]

Same-sex marriage is not recognized in Nepal, despite attempts at legalisation in the past. In 2008, the Supreme Court made Nepal one of the first Asian countries to consider legalizing same-sex marriage, but attempts to include provisions recognizing same-sex marriage in the new constitution in 2015 were unsuccessful.

Sunil Babu Pant and Others v. Nepal Government[]

On November 17, 2008, the Nepali Supreme Court ruled in favor of laws to guarantee full rights to LGBT people and define gender minorities as "natural persons" under the law, including the right to marry. "This is a landmark decision for sexual minorities and we welcome it," said Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal's first publicly gay lawmaker and a leading gay rights activist in South Asia.[4] The court asked the government to form a committee to study same-sex partnership laws in other countries and mandated that the new law not discriminate against sexual minorities, including transgender people.[5][6]

On March 22, 2009, Pant said in an interview with the Indo-Asian News Service that "Though the court has approved of same-sex marriage, the government is yet to enact a law," signaling that while a same-sex marriage bill has been ordered by the Supreme Court, it has yet to be drafted or voted on, much less legislated.[7] In June 2009, Pant said the process has just started: "Nepal is going through transition and everything seems to move slowly. The seven-member committee has formed and just started working to study same-sex marriage bills in other countries. Hopefully they will draft the suggestion to make same-sex marriage law soon and give it to the government to approve."[8]

Rajani Shahi v. National Women's Commission[]

In 2012, the Supreme Court recognized the relationship of a lesbian couple in Rajani Shahi v. National Women's Commission. The court allowed Rajani Shahi to live with her partner Prem Kumari Nepali as she wished, rather than with her husband.[9] The verdict stated:[10]

"Individuals can decide as to choosing their ways of living either separately or in partnership together with homosexuals or heterosexuals – with or without solemnizing marriage. Although in the prevailing laws and tradition "marriage" denotes legal bond between heterosexuals (male and female), the legal provisions on the homosexual relations are either inadequate or mute [sic] by now."[9]

Suman Panta v. Ministry of Home Affairs et. al.[]

Leslie Luin Melnik, an American citizen, married Suman Panta, a Nepalese citizen, in December 2015 in California. Melnik then applied for a "Non-Tourist Visa" ("NT Visa") with the Department of Immigration (DOIM) in December 2016 as the dependant of a Nepalese citizen. The DOIM denied Melnik's application on the ground that Nepali law does not recognize same-sex marriage. The couple filed a legal challenge with the Supreme Court requiring the DOIM to issue an NT Visa to Melnik. The court issued its judgement on 23 October 2017, ruling that under Rule 8(1)(h) of the Immigration Rules a foreign national who submits a valid marriage certificate with a Nepali citizen is eligible to obtain an "NT Visa" as a dependant. The Supreme Court further ruled that the Immigration Rules do not specify that a foreign national applying for an NT Visa must either be of the same or opposite gender. It also ruled that Panta, as a member of a "gender and sexual minority", is entitled to the fundamental right to live a life with dignity without discrimination under the Constitution of Nepal. Foreign same-sex spouses of Nepali citizens are now eligible to obtain an NT Visa as a dependant.[3][11]

2015 Constitution[]

Laws regarding homosexuality in Asia
Same-sex sexual activity legal
  Marriage performed
  Foreign same-sex marriages recognized
  Other type of partnership
  Legal guardianships or unregistered cohabitation
(stripes: non-binding certificates)
  No recognition of same-sex couples
  Restrictions on freedom of expression
Same-sex sexual activity illegal
  Prison on books, but not enforced
  Prison
  Death penalty on books, but not applied
  Death penalty
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Several sources reported that same-sex marriage and protections for sexual minorities would be included in the new Nepali Constitution being drafted.[12][13] The Interim Constitution provided for a Constituent Assembly, which was charged with writing a permanent constitution. Under the terms of the Interim Constitution, the new constitution was to be promulgated by November 30, 2011,[14] but a final six month extension was granted just before this deadline bringing the date to May 31, 2012. Negotiations failed and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai dissolved the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2012 in preparations for the 2013 elections.[15] As a result, the future of same-sex marriage was uncertain.

The elections were held on 19 November 2013.[16] The vote was repeatedly delayed,[17] having previously been planned for 22 November 2012 following the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly on 27 May 2012, but it was put off by the Election Commission.[18] On 10 February 2014, Sushil Koirala was elected as prime minister with a large majority, breaking the political deadlock and opening the way for the constitution to be finalised.[19]

The Constitution of Nepal, approved in 2015, does not address the issue of same-sex marriage. Nonetheless, Article 18 lists "gender and sexual minorities" among recognized and protected disadvantaged groups.[20]

Legislation[]

In January 2014, Chaitanya Mishra, a member of the committee formed to study international laws on same-sex marriage and prepare a report on the matter, stated that the work on the report had been completed, except for a summary to be drafted by the chairman of the committee. The chairman, Laxmi Raj Pathak, promised to submit the report to the Nepali Government within a month, but said that the government was "not interested in the matter". Bhumika Shrestha of the Blue Diamond Society, a Nepalese gay rights group, has not ruled out the possibility of another lawsuit with the Supreme Court.[21]

In August 2014, the Associated Press reported that the committee had decided to recommend the legalization of same-sex marriage.[22] The same month, Narahari Acharya, the Minister of Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs, stated that his ministry would present a bill to allow same-sex marriages.[23] The committee submitted its report to the government on 9 February 2015.[24][25]

In January 2016, a government official stated that the recommendations of the committee were under consultation.[26] In February 2016, the National Human Rights Commission asked the government to introduce a bill to allow same-sex marriage.[27] In October 2016, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare created a committee for the purpose of preparing a draft bill on the issue.[28] As of 2019, a bill to legalise same-sex marriage was being drafted,[29] though LGBT activists have accused the government of being "lukewarm" in its support. In August 2018, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai urged it to legalise same-sex marriage.[30]

The Nepali National Code, which came into effect in August 2018, does not address same-sex marriage and specifically defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. Activists have called out the Civil Code as unconstitutional and contrary to Supreme Court guidelines, though the government affirmed the year before that it intended to legalise same-sex marriage in a separate law.[29][31]

On 1 July 2020, the National Human Rights Commission called on the government to legalize same-sex marriage.[32]

Case of one marriage[]

In July 2017, a couple (one partner identifies as third gender) successfully registered their marriage in the far-western Dadeldhura District. LGBT activist Sunil Babu Pant congratulated the married couple.[33] Home Ministry spokesman Deepak Kafle said that the marriage could be invalid.[34]

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sharma, Bhadra (2015-09-16). "Assembly in Nepal Approves New Constitution". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  2. ^ "Nepal lawmakers approve first LGBTI protections in new constitution - Gay Star News". 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Supreme Court on Same-sex Marriage". www.pradhanlaw.com. June 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  4. ^ Nepal's Supreme Court OKs same-sex marriage Archived 2008-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Nepal Supreme Court orders full LGBT rights Archived 2010-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Nepal SC approves same-sex marriage Archived 2008-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Gay Nepalese MP looks towards greater acceptance of gays and lesbians
  8. ^ Progress in new republic of Nepal
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "UNDP, USAID (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: Nepal Country Report. Bangkok" (PDF).
  10. ^ "निर्णय नं. ८९४५ - बन्दीप्रत्यक्षीकरण". Supreme Court of Nepal (in Nepali). 14 April 2013.
  11. ^ "निर्णय नं. ९९२१ - उत्प्रेषण / परमादेश". Supreme Court of Nepal (in Nepali). 23 October 2017.
  12. ^ Nepal charter to grant gay rights Archived 2010-01-23 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Nepal 'to stage gay weddings on Everest'
  14. ^ Nepali interim Constitution to be amended for extension of CA term[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Narayan, John (2012-05-28). "Nepal enters crisis mode as constitution talks fail". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  16. ^ Nepal voting ends for new Constituent Assembly
  17. ^ "Channel NewsAsia". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
  18. ^ "Nepal fails to meet constitution deadline". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  19. ^ Nepal Picks New Premier, Putting End to Stalemate
  20. ^ "भाग–३ मौलिक हक र कर्तव्य". lawcommission.gov.np (in Nepali).
  21. ^ Report on same-sex marriage
  22. ^ Nepal’s LGBT community parades for same-sex marriage
  23. ^ Nepal to legalise homosexuality and same-sex marriages, says law minister
  24. ^ Nepal panel recommends legalising same sex marriage
  25. ^ Nepal committee calls for legalising same-sex marriage
  26. ^ Once hailed, now failed?
  27. ^ NHRC writes to implement report on same sex marriage
  28. ^ All set to get legal status
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b "Govt to introduce special laws to address the same-sex marriage". 25 February 2017.
  30. ^ "Ensure the marriage rights of LGBTI : BRB". 27 August 2018.
  31. ^ "Marriage provision under new civil code of is unconstitutional". 23 August 2018.
  32. ^ Ghimire, Binod (1 July 2020). "National Human Rights Commission recommends that Nepal legalise same-sex marriage". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  33. ^ Same-sex marriage has been registered for the first time in Nepal
  34. ^ Nepali couple registers the country's first transgender marriage

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