Foreign Minister Rana leaves Berlin for India

KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, left Berlin of Germany for New Delhi, India, on Wednesday afternoon.

Minister Dr Rana was on a visit to Germany to participate in the 2024 Conference of the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC), following her visit of Brussels, Belgium; The Hague, Netherlands; and Luxembourg.

On December 17, she attended the conference where she spoke at the panel on ‘Pathways to LGBTQI+ Inclusion in National Laws and Policies’.

During the session, the Foreign Minister shared views on the inclusion and human rights of minority groups, particularly LGBTQI+ persons in Nepal.

She also highlighted the relevant national provisions and their impact on the LGBTIQ+ community, discussing how these developments might inspire other countries, reads a press release issued by Embassy of Nepal in Berlin.

Also at the same Conference, Dr Rana delivered key remarks during the session on "LGBTQI+ in Feminist Foreign Policy", Minister Dr. Deuba highlighted the significant challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals globally, including violence, harassment, and systemic inequality. Furthermore, she emphasized the urgent need for a paradigm shift in policies, stressing that feminist foreign policy held transformative potential.

Foreign Minister Dr Rana and her delegation visited the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), Potsdam, Germany on December 16. During the Visit, she had a meeting with Prof. Dr. Niels Hovius, Head of Geomorphology and Dr. Ludwig Stronik, Head of Projects and International Affairs and discussed on nationwide landslide warning system for geotechnical emergencies and risk reduction in Nepal. Additionally, both sides reviewed the progress on the Early Warning System for Multi-Hazards and Extreme Floods, according to the press release.

During her stay in Germany, the Foreign Minister visited the property of the Government of Nepal (Chancery and Embassy Building) in Bonn, interacted with the Nepali diaspora, and attended the reception held on December 15 by Ambassador-Designate of Nepal to Germany Dr. Shail Rupakheti.