Amar Timalsina

Global Network Coordinator, IDEA International

Amar grew up in a remote village of Nepal and was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease at an early age. He experienced segregation and exclusion from school. These experiences drove Amar to devote himself to education and lifelong learning, earning an M.A. in English literature and serving as a principal for the past 20 years.

Amar’s dedication to the people who have experienced Hansen’s disease sets an example for people across the globe. He has spoken on the dignity of people who have experienced Hansen’s disease at numerous international events, including the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, and the UN Conference of the State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Amar published his autobiography, Sunlit Mountains: A Story of Redemption, Healing, and Hope, in 2019. He is the Global Network Coordinator of the International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement (IDEA).