Beyond Victims #2025 - Nepal Edition
- CGAP South Asia
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Our fourth edition of 2025 Beyond Victims Series brings you stories of inspiring women political leaders from Nepal.
Dive in to read stories of Sunita Dangol, Onsari Gharti Magar, Aishwarya Malla, Honey Maharajan & Mouni Maharajan, and Dolma Maya Gole.
Sunita Dangol (Deputy Mayor, Kathmandu Metropolitan City)
Named a Young Global Leader 2025 by the World Economic Forum, Sunita is the only honoree from Nepal among leaders from over 120 countries. Elected in 2022 with the highest margin across Nepal’s municipalities, she blends cultural advocacy with inclusive governance, focusing on waste management, infrastructure, digital transformation, youth empowerment, and heritage conservation.
Founder of Callijatra, a youth-led initiative to preserve local scripts, Dangol has combined grassroots action with public service. She has been an invited speaker at international forums including Oxford University and organised WOW Nepal 2024 in Kathmandu. With her background in communications and city planning, Dangol represents a new generation of leaders linking cultural heritage to sustainable urban development, and works tirelessly to amplify the voices of Kathmandu’s diverse communities.
- Multiple Sources
Onsari Gharti Magar (Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Nepal)
In 2015, Onsari Gharti Magar became the first woman Speaker of Nepal’s Parliament, guiding the country through its transition to a federal democratic republic under a new constitution. Representing Rolpa district and the CPN (Maoist Centre), she broke centuries-old gender barriers in Nepali politics.
Grounded in a commitment to gender equality and inclusive governance, Onsari served as Deputy Speaker and briefly as Minister for Youth and Sports, championing youth leadership and civic participation. As Speaker, she strengthened parliamentary processes, promoted transparency, fostered cross-party dialogue, and made debates more participatory and gender-sensitive.
- Multiple Sources
Aishwarya Malla (Deputy Mayor, Chhayanath Rara Municipality, Nepal)
Elected to serve as Deputy Mayor of Chhayanath Rara Municipality in Mugu District, Aishwarya represents a new generation of women driving change in local governance and sustainable development in Nepal’s mountain regions. Her leadership bridges grassroots realities and policy, insisting on transparency, inclusion, and evidence-based decision-making.
Grounded in advocacy for climate adaptation and women’s empowerment, Malla has created platforms for women and marginalized communities to address environmental risks such as forest fires and water scarcity. She has questioned budget allocations, called on provincial and federal governments to fund an emergency safe house, and promoted environmental conservation alongside sustainable tourism. Her work also strengthens local livelihoods through entrepreneurship and vocational training to reduce out-migration.
- Multiple Sources
Honey Maharjan & Mouni Maharjan (Transgender Political Candidates, Kirtipur Municipality, Nepal)
In November 2024, Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan made history in Nepal as the first transwomen to contest local elections. Honey ran for Mayor of Kirtipur Municipality, while Mouni stood for a ward chair position in the same municipality. Their campaigns marked a landmark moment for political representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Nepal, where 81% of LGBTQ+ individuals report facing discrimination and abuse.
Driven by personal experience and a commitment to equality, both candidates championed inclusive governance, better healthcare, and improved education and infrastructure. Honey, a former tour guide who faced discrimination firsthand, has become a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Mouni has worked extensively on LGBTQ+ inclusive education and infrastructure. While neither won their election, their campaigns disrupted entrenched social norms, challenged barriers to political participation for gender-diverse people, and elevated public discourse on LGBTQ+ rights in Nepal. Their candidacies stand as a milestone in the country’s democratic journey, offering visibility, inspiration, and a path forward for future trans leaders.
- Multiple Sources
Dolma Maya Gole (Vice-Chairperson & Former Maoist Guerrilla)
At just 14 years old, Dolma Maya Gole joined Nepal’s Maoist insurgency, becoming the first woman guerrilla from Lalitpur district, driven by a desire for social change and justice. Today, she serves as Vice-Chairperson of Mahankal Rural Municipality in Lalitpur District, Bagmati Province, where she leads key committees and works to improve governance in one of Nepal’s most rural areas.
Grounded in grassroots leadership, Dolma chairs the Judicial Committee, Monitoring Committee, and Revenue Advisory Committee, overseeing functions ranging from road inspections and agricultural market management to engaging with local police stations. Her work reflects her dedication to transparency, inclusion, and participatory governance, addressing the unique challenges of a municipality often referred to as the "Karnali of Lalitpur."
Her leadership was recognized internationally in January 2025, she was awarded the International Women’s Leadership Award by the International Awards Forum (TIAF) in New Delhi.
- Multiple Sources
Project Manager: Riya Hira
Contributors: Aparna Krishnan & Nethra Singhi
Edited by: Sugandha Parmar
Design: Riya Hira
Template: Vida Seraphina (https://vidaseraphina.dk/)
Sources:
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2024/07/18/37226 https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/43395?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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