Close up shot of a women sitting in a meeting table

A Woman with Disability Joins the Community Police Service Center Committee

For years, the executive committee of the Deukhuri Community Police Service Center in Lamahi Municipality, Dang district, has included representatives from various sectors. However, persons with disabilities have been largely absent from these decision-making bodies—until now.

Goma Gharti Magar, a woman with a physical disability, has made history by securing a position on the executive committee of the Deukhuri Community Police Service Center. As a resident of Ward No. 9 in Lamahi and an advocate for disability rights, Goma’s appointment is a major step toward inclusion and representation in the community policing system.

For years, advocacy groups, including the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal and CBM Global, have been working to push for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in local decision-making. Through the “Include Us” project, Goma actively engaged in accessibility assessments and advocacy efforts, which led to her recommendation for lifetime membership in the committee.

“At first, the chairperson of the center hesitated, stating that inclusion in the committee was not feasible at that moment,” Goma recalls. “But we kept pushing, and when a female member’s position became vacant, we saw our opportunity.”

To meet the requirement for lifetime membership—an essential criterion for committee inclusion—stakeholders came together to allocate funds from event refreshment expenses. This collective effort ensured Goma’s official appointment, marking the first-ever representation of persons with disabilities in the executive committee.

“This is more than just my achievement. It is a win for the entire disabled community,” says Goma. “Now, we have a voice at the table.”

“Now, we have a voice at the table.” Goma Gharti Magar’s appointment marks a significant step towards disability inclusion in community policing.

Since joining the committee, Goma has actively participated in various initiatives, including:

Attending six executive meetings and advocating for disability inclusion.

Goma’s inclusion represents a broader effort to make Nepal’s community policing system more inclusive and accountable. The Deukhuri Community Police Service Center, under Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs, plays a crucial role in crime prevention, security maintenance, and fostering strong police-community relations. Now, with disability representation in its leadership, the center is taking a vital step toward inclusivity.

This achievement highlights the power of advocacy and collective effort in creating more inclusive systems. Moving forward, disability advocates hope that similar appointments will become common practice, ensuring that persons with disabilities have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.