Parliament Building Goes Orange

Kathmandu, Nepal - Nepal’s Parliament puts an orange spotlight on gender-based violence today as part of a 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. Starting Friday until Sunday evening, the Parliament building turns orange as part of the UNite campaign for 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence. This initiative calls on all people in all parts of world to take action in their communities, play their part and stand up against violence against women and girls.

The Turn the World Orange campaign that kicked off 25 November, shines a light on not only violence against women, girls, men and boys, but the role society must play in its elimination around the world. The Government of Nepal has adopted the crucial legislation to tackle gender-based violence, and Parliamentary members acknowledge that legislation is not enough.

“We the Parliamentarians of Nepal commit to ensuring adequate resources and mechanisms to prevent and respond to gender based violence and to an annual monitoring of the implementation of ending violence against women legislations,” said Right Honourable Onsari Gharti Magar, the Speaker of the Legislature Parliament.

This year, The Government of Nepal has enacted legislation on witchcraft accusations, and workplace sexual harassment, and also put in place a five-year national strategy and action plan for ending gender-based violence.

The new constitution of Nepal guarantees the fundamental right of women to protection against physical, mental, sexual, and psychological or any other forms of violence, with penalty for perpetrators and entitlement of compensation for victims. The Constitution also prohibits human trafficking and bonded labour with penalty for perpetrator and compensation for the victim from the perpetrator.

Despite these commitments, efforts to prevent and respond to different forms of violence need to be strengthened. Key recommendations of the recent Universal Periodic Review of Nepal include amending legislation on domestic violence to encompass all forms of sexual violence, and bringing the laws on rape into compliance with international norms.

“The United Nations continues to support the Government of Nepal in its efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in all settings,” said Jamie McGoldrick, Nepal’s UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

The UN is jointly supporting a number of other initiatives as a part of the global 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign and Orange the world campaign. For example, on Wednesday 2 December, the UNCT Gender Theme Group, supported the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare to hold successful panel discussion on the Elimination and Prevention of All Forms of Violence against Women and Girls.The 16 Days of Activism comes to a close on 10 December, also International Human Rights Day.