Rediscovering Nepal
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performances 7 issue in focus interview retrospective space Reframing Consent The Aravani Art The Queer Red Light. Go! Project Internationalism We explore the many lives This curated space explores of consent, and recognize This collective is spreading of John Greyson how feminists can amplify sex the pioneering work of awareness and amplifying Check out this retrospective workers’ voices, and support Carole Vance in the domain trans voices – all through of the prolific art of film and human rights advocacy led by of sexuality and rights. 2 its gorgeous art. 7 video artist John Greyson. 8 sex workers. 5 reconference daily, kathmandu, nepal IssuE 2 11 APrIL 2019 ret h i n k rei m ag i n e reb o ot WWW.CreaworLD.orG REMOBILIZE WOREC Women’s Rehabilitation Centre rediscovering Nepal (WOREC) is one of Nepal’s leading national organizations through a feminist lens that works to prevent violence against women, its causes and consequences, and to ensure FREE AND EQUAL women who are successful models the economic, social and cul- in America, Brazil, and Japan.” tural well-being of women as Meet the people who refuse Anjali Lama, Lazimpat well as other marginalized to conform to narrow social groups by promoting access to norms; everyday heroes who “I am the first transgender woman rights and social justice. are push ing boundaries to to be elected in a general conven- live loud, passionate, and tion in the Nepali Congress Party. unapologetic lives. I achieved that by working hard, NDWA being dedicated, and pressurizing Nepal Disabled Women Asso- “I’m a transgender woman, and I’ve the political parties and the media, ciation (NDWA) builds the been an activist with the Blue Dia- and I’ve got the support of my family capacity of women with disa- mond Society since 2001. Since then, and friends. bilities living in both urban and there have been so many changes, I’m encouraging all the youth to remote areas of the country. It including acceptance from my come forward and have a voice, be empowers women with disabil- family. part of the political process to build ities from disadvantaged com- The most important thing to do is a stronger nation.” munities, and supports them to break the silence. Bhumika Shrestha, Kathmandu to build their self-esteem and The family pressure to change self-confidence. ourselves puts a lot of mental pres- A COUNTRY OF MANY sure on us. Blue Diamond Society FIRSTS! has support and peer groups, so that CREHPA we get the opportunity to share our We all know that Nepal is a The Center for Research on Envi- feelings, which really helps with our destination for tourists. But ronment Health and Popula- mental health. did you know there is so much tion Activities (CREHPA) works In Nepal, there is no service for more to the country than this? to improve the environment, gender reassignment surgery and well-being and health through hormone therapy. We are work- Nepal is considered to be one of education, training, research, ing towards this. At the moment, the most progressive countries alliances, partnerships and transgender women use contracep- in South Asia. The Nepali Con- policy advocacy. It undertakes tives for their hormones.” stitution provides for sexual and clockwise from top left Manisha Dhakal, Anjali Lama, Sunil Babu Pant policy research on major issues Manisha Dhakal, Kathmandu reproductive health and rights for and Bhumika Shrestha of public health concern, par- women. Through the Constitution, ticularly those affecting sexual “I have trained as a model, but every all women have the fundamental with local communities and on a neighbors China, India, Bangla- and reproductive health and time I go to an audition for different right to access safe abortion and national level with the mission to desh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – and rights. fashion shows, they say the same the right to be free from violence. improve the sexual health, human also ahead of so-called ‘developed’ thing. I have been told that I have Nepal was also the first South rights and well-being of sexual and countries like the United Kingdom, all the qualities that they require but Asian country to decriminalize gender minorities in Nepal, includ- the Netherlands, Germany, Aus- SWAN they don’t select me because I am sexual minorities and recognize ing third gender people, gay men, tralia, or the United States! Society For Women Aware- transgender. gender diversity. In fact, Sunil bisexuals, lesbians and other men And finally, in Nepal, marijuana ness Nepal (SWAN) is the first My dream is to be a catwalk Babu Pant, who founded Blue Dia- who have sex with men. plants grow everywhere – in gar- NGO established in Nepal by a model, but I don’t think I will be able mond Society, is the first openly Globally Nepal ranks 36th in dens, on the side of the road, in group of female sex workers, to do it in Nepal. So, I’d like to model gay national level legislator in the percentage of women in its ditches, on mountainsides – people with the aim of creating aware- abroad. There are transgender Asia. Blue Diamond Society works Parliament (33.2%), way ahead of consider it just a weed! ness on STI & HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, economic opportunities, capac- ity building skills and human rights. The Sri Lankan who summited Everest! The organization’s main objective is to promote a rights- While the world recognizes Jayan- Affairs, Sri Lanka. based approach to reduce the thi Kuru-Utumpala as the first Sri Her journey to Everest combined risk of HIV among women and Lankan woman to summit Mt Ever- two of the things she’s most pas- their children by addressing est, we assert that in May 2016, sionate about – gender equality healthcare needs, education she became the first Sri Lankan to and mountaineering – and she con- and advocacy. SWAN advocates achieve this feat. In recognition of tinues to use her public platform to for the recognition of sex work this and her professional career as challenge gender stereotypes and as work, on violence against sex a women’s rights activist, she was promote the rights of women and workers and for the empower- appointed the first-ever Goodwill girls at every opportunity. ment and social inclusion of sex Ambassador for Women’s Rights Meet Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala at workers. Jayanthi waving the Sri Lankan flag on the summit of Mount Everest by the Ministry of Women and Child #recon2019! 2 issue in focus 11 APrIL 2019 TODAY’S PLENARY Recognizing the Many Lives of Consent speakers: Tshegofatso Senne, Independent | Julius pioneering work of Kaggwa, SIPD | Shahana Siddiqui, BrAC | Jeeja Ghosh, Independent | Jules Kim, Scarlet Alliance | Subha Wijesiriwardena, Women and Media Collective | Carole Vance Sara Hossain, BLAST moderator: Geetanjali Misra by Geetanjali Misra he tension between sexual danger and sexual pleas- “Ture is a powerful one in women’s lives. Sexuality is simul- taneously a domain of restriction, repression, and danger as well as a domain of exploration, pleas- Tshegofatso Senne ure, and agency. To focus only on pleasure and gratification ignores the patriarchal structure in which women act, yet to speak only of sexual violence and oppression ignores women’s experience with sexual agency and choice and unwittingly increases the sexual terror and despair in which women live.” Shahana Siddiqui With these words, Carole Vance opened her incredibly influential article in the collaborative collec- tion of works Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality, first published in 1984 as the result of a 1982 seminar at Barnard College in New York. Over the past 35 years, the book has been instrumental in Jeeja Ghosh Carole Vance catalyzing an entire generation of activists and academics to further research and debate this issue. by the inimitable Carole S. Vance Fellow with the Global Health Jus- Through her scholarship and with a slightly arched eyebrow and tice Partnership at Yale University, thoughtful leadership, Carole has a friendly but questioning look, “She is the rare scholar who is both taught us to think about sexuality it changes your work and your an incisive thinker and a boots-on- not only as something to do with life,” recalls Ali Miller, Co-Director, the-ground changemaker helping individuals’ feelings and choices Global Health Justice Partnership students and advocates around but as a domain. This domain of the Yale Law School and the the world to reflect more deeply on Subha Wijesiriwardena includes structures like law, reli- School of Public Health. “I know their research, advocacy, and pro- gion, medicine, education, fami- because Carole asked me that ques- gramming. Her brilliant engage- lies, and communities through tion more than twenty years ago, ment with students, meticulous ING CONSENT ING which control is exercised over our when I was beginning a Fellow- feedback and extraordinary men- bodies. Carole has introduced us to ship in the program on the Study torship has given rise to a gen- feminist writings by Gayle Rubin of Sexuality, Gender, Health and eration of scholars working at the and Amber Hollibaugh that offer Human Rights at Columbia Univer- intersection of sexuality, gender, a more expansive and affirming sity, directed by Carole. Answer- health, and human rights—a new approach to sexuality. ing that question required me to interdisciplinary field that she Sara Hossain This pioneering, provocative and dig deeper into what I thought I founded.” M visionary thinking has also deeply knew about advocacy, law, sexual- Sealing Cheng, Associate Pro- The panel will interrogate and influenced our own work. CREA’s ity and human rights and radically fessor of Anthropology at the Chi- explore how those in the margins Sexuality, Gender and Rights Insti- altered the trajectory of my work nese University of Hong Kong, says, negotiate consent.