Nepal activists need to learn why informed consent matters in advocacy

Almost a year back, a video of a popular TikToker (name not disclosed due to privacy reasons), who identifies herself as a transwoman, got viral in which she was being harassed by two bike riders. The video shared across social media showed her in one of her most vulnerable states where she was hiding her face and later approaching the harasser defensively.

The video originally posted with intentions to humiliate later got circulated around by a wide range of social media users to explain why it was wrong. People shared it for advocacy, talked of the atrociousness of the act, of the levels of impact that can make on the person and the LGBTQIA++ community to which she belongs, and the need for more awareness and discourses on the topics, with all positive intentions. Criticisms and comments poured, actions were taken, and the harassers along with the owner of the social media handle from which it was originally posted were taken into custody within a few days.