Laxmi Gurung

Laxmi’s role consists of designing strategies and action plans for lobby advocacy, ensuring the fundamental human rights of indigenous women are met. One of her key projects has been the lobbying for proper implementation of international human rights instruments. She also facilitates Capacity Development Activities of Grassroots Indigenous Women and conducts research and documentation about indigenous women, particularly in the areas of right to livelihood, climate justice, access to natural and productive resources at grassroots levels, caste/class based base discrimination and IP women’s right to land and housing. Laxmi has been involved in the documentation/localization of the concluding observation of CEDAW (6th period review of 2018). She worked on article 16 of the CEDAW Shadow Report on Nepal and has been involved in Nepal’s mid-term UPR Report as well as preparations for their next review in 2020. She is also working with Tamang and Mager Indigenous Peoples of Makawanpur who are affected by the Cement Factory. Laxmi expects that this training program will build her capacity in the human rights, women rights and rights of minorities linking it with business. She hopes to gain more knowledge of human rights principles, state obligations (respect, protect, and fulfil) and the responsibilities of third party / business houses that she can utilise in her advocacy work., Ms Gurung is the President of IWL, an organisation that lobbies and advocates for the human rights of Nepalese women, particularly Indigenous women. Her role includes facilitating training human rights trainings on issues such as on food rights, gender and social inclusion, climate change and customary law and advocacy for human rights such as the right to food for Indigenous women and children. Ms Gurung is a founding member and Board Secretary of Nepal Gurung (Tamu) Women Association, an NGO promoting the welfare and rights of Indigenous Gurung women. She has also worked as a researcher, trainer and as an Indigenous women activist for several years in Nepal.