Kathmandu (Pahichan) December 23 – UNFPA had conducted dissemination and interaction workshop with youths on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 5. Youths from various organizations made their participation in the program which was held on December 19.

The event was organized to disseminate Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2016 followed by an interactive workshop in Kathmandu. Students of public health and gender studies and members of YPEER-Nepal and YUWA were part of the function linked to the Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 5 (Gender Equality). During the interaction, the participants shared the gaps and their implications for programming and at the policy level, what roles they can play to address some of the challenges etc.

Rukshana Kapali from Blue Diamond Society put forth her voice. She said “Every time we talk about gender binary, from the largest to the local authorities, show “a technical problem” to create data on three gender categories. This technical problem was a technical problem ten years ago, and for this long time is a technical problem, and we don’t know until when is this going to be a technical problem. Why do we probe for a Standard Practice that endorses gender binary and cissexism, when we talk about gender equality and leaving no one behind?”

The representatives of UNFPA briefed about gaps with LGBTI people seriously and were positive on this issue. They have assured that they would like to work with LGBTI people and be more inclusive. Shriya Pant was welcoming LGBTI inclusivity and assured that they would do to break gender binary as they can.

Bijay Thapa from UNFPA talked with Pahichan. He urged on need to make technical changes so that data can include three gender columns. He said that we now need to have three gender data, specific of intersex, trans man and Trans woman is also necessary. He also said that collecting separate specific data of homosexual and bisexual male and female is also necessary. He also added that if this lobby is made in Asia level, than it would be easier to advocate for.