Leading voice for transgender rights in Nepal earns global recognition
KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 4
Rukshana Kapali, a prominent transgender activist and fourth-year law student from Nepal, has been listed in Time magazine's prestigious TIME100 Next 2024, an annual list celebrating rising leaders shaping the future across various fields.
Kapali, a member of the Newa Indigenous nation, has been a key figure in advocating for the rights of Nepal's transgender community, filing more than 50 cases against the Nepali government since 2021 to push for policy reforms, the Times said.
"One of her significant achievements came in November, when she won a landmark case granting her full legal recognition as a woman. Though only one of the 20 cases she filed at the Supreme Court has been decided, the victory sets a crucial legal precedent for other transgender individuals seeking gender recognition."
Kapali's inclusion in the TIME100 Next list highlights her unwavering dedication to social justice. As she continues her fight for the rights of transgender individuals, she remains determined: "Suing them and holding them accountable in the court of law is also saying that we are not stoppable and we'll keep on fighting."
Time magazine's TIME100 Next list, now in its fifth year, recognizes leaders making an impact in health, climate, business, sports, and beyond, with more than half of this year's honorees being women and leaders of color. "TIME100 Next has no age requirements; its aim is to recognize that influence does not have them either, nor does leadership look like it once did."
