Mitini Nepal’s work embraces United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
United Nation’s Agenda 2030 is based upon the principle “Leave no one behind”, which, with its Sustainable Development Goals, targets, and implementation plans, forms the most comprehensive blueprint for eliminating extreme poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet the world has ever seen. Here are the short points which show the linkages of MN’s work and the need to work on the particular goal for to achieve the sustainability. Out of all the 17 goals, these 7 goals are directly linked and also important through Mitini Nepal’s working lenses.
Mitini Nepal and UN SDG 1
GOAL 1: END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE Target 1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all […] Target 1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women […] have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property […]
Mitini Nepal has always been advocating for the sustainable economic development. MN believes exclusion and discrimination makes it harder for LBT people to earn money, stay secure and pursue their goals. Moreover discrimination takes many forms, from LBT being limited to insecure and unsafe employment, to a lesbian being refused access to communal land, to a gay or bi man being denied a loan. Many people of LBT community are also rejected from the family support which is the foundation for support. The denial of the formal social assistance in terms of recognition of same sex marriage, right to birth and adopt child etc.
Mitini Nepal and UN SDG 3
GOAL 3: ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL- BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES Target 3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services […] Target 3.8 Achieve universal health coverage […] for all MN is continuously advocating the health right issues from grassroots to national level in term of awareness and policy reform. MN‟s major working area focuses on LBT‟s exclusion from healthcare and not confined to sexual and reproductive health. Basically MN is functioning upon the poorly treatment towards LBT due to discrimination, lack of awareness by health-workers and inappropriate services especially disrespect towards their privacy and right to quality treatment.
Mitini Nepal and SDG 4
GOAL 4: ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL Target 4.5 By 2030 […] ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for […] children in vulnerable situations Target 4.7 By 2030 […] ensure […] education for […] human rights [&] promotion of a culture of peace and non- violence […]
MN is developing a different mechanism to stop young people in school or college from being bullied or excluded by teachers and peers, because they are (or are perceived to be) LBT or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. The school level orientation to encourage the education and preventing dropouts is ongoing activities of MN.
Mitini Nepal and UN SDG 5
GOAL 5: ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS Target 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere Target 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls […]
MN is working for the violence free and equal society. However, LBT can experience multiple discrimination and violence, because of their intersecting LBT status and gender. Therefore it has broaden its horizon to end the deep rooted violence and aware the people with the awareness and sensitization of different forms of violence and ways to prevent and address them .
Mitini Nepal and UN SDG 10
GOAL 10: REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES Target 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the […] inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status Target 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity […] including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices […] Sincethe discrimination against LBT people is often reinforced by laws, policies and practices that either fail to take LBT needs into account or deliberately exclude them, MN has been fluently working for policy reform. The stakeholder consultation, networking and the alliance forming is ongoing to create a support mechanism to end the inequality of LBT community.
Mitini Nepal and UN SDG 11
GOAL 11: MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE Target 11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services […]
MN‟s major concern is to safe guard the homeless LBT as the high rate of LBT homelessness is directly linked to discrimination. Rejected or abused by family and bullied by friends, many LBT people are forced to leave home. Prejudice from landlords can also mean that many LBT people find themselves on the streets.
Mitini Nepal and UN SDG 16
GOAL 16: PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL AND BUILD EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS Target 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death threats Target 16.3 […] Ensure equal access to justice for all Any form of violent attack against anyone is unacceptable, but LBT people in Nepal faces the additional challenge of police and security services refusing to take their reports of violence seriously. In some contexts, the police and security services that are meant to protect instead attack and harass LBT people, especially where there are discriminatory laws in place. Therefore MN has been working with security agencies to minimize the situation.