Kathmandu: Some sexual and gender minority (SGM) organisations, including Neel Hira Samaj (Blue Diamond Society), established in the name of the SGM community, have been found to be operating in an opaque manner.

The Commission of the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the anti-graft body of Nepal, recently concluded that BDS, the Federation of Sexual Gender Minorities, Nepal (FSGMN), Mitini Nepal, Campaign for Change, Cruiseaids Nepal, and Queer Youth Group have not been complying with good governance and transparency standards.

An official involved in the investigation said that these organisations did not conduct social audits and public hearings, which are the main indicators of good governance and transparency.

There is a provision for government agencies and non-governmental organisations to hold a public hearing with all the stakeholders regarding their plans, programmes and other activities. It is said that a public hearing should be conducted in an accessible, free, fearless, confident and systematic way.

However, those who have questioned BDS’s lack of transparence have faced retaliation. Notably, BDS leadership dismissed its employee, Monika Shahi, a rights activist for the third gender, when she demanded transparency and democratic procedures in selecting the leadership within the organisation. Now, BDS has prevented her from participating in any related programmes in retaliation, she said.

The government has outlined several indicators of good governance and transparency: Whether the government’s national policy programme has been implemented, whether there is coordination among all three levels of government, whether work is completed on time and is the budget spent effectively, if the budget is spent effectively, what changes have come from there, where that change is sustainable.

“Social audits are part of public hearings, report sharing, good governance. But these organisations have been found flouting these requirements,” a source said, “Although BDS’s statute states that it’s leadership should be changed every two years, but the same leadership has remained in power for over two decades, it has been found.”

Other indicators being monitored include whether BDS promotes gender friendly activities, whether its board of directors is gender inclusive, whether its staff environment is gender friendly, and whether its services are accessible and friendly to service seekers, said the official.

Following the CIAA’s recommendation, a separate committee has been formed to investigate organisations, including BDS. “Some of those organisations are now under investigation,” said the official.

“The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police is also looking into the case.”

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