NHRC Nepal LGBTQ Rights

Third Gender & LGBTQ Rights in Nepal 2026 — Full Guide

"Nepal is the first South Asian country to recognise third-gender and LGBTQ rights at the apex-court and constitutional level. The Supreme Court ruling in Sunil Babu Pant v. Nepal Government (Writ No. 917 of 2007, decided 21 December 2007) established LGBTI persons as natural persons entitled to full constitutional rights and ordered third-gender recognition on official documents. The Constitution of Nepal 2015 protects gender and sexual minorities under Article 12 (citizenship), Article 18 (equality with affirmative-action proviso) and Article 42 (inclusive participation). The Supreme Court's June 2023 interim order directed a temporary register for same-sex marriages; Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey's marriage on 29 November 2023 was the first registered."