Gender Equality emphasized on Nepal’s Human Rights Day
Date:
Kathmandu – “Gender-based discrimination should not just be made punishable, but should be completely eliminated,” said President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari, at a ceremony to mark the 67th International Human Rights Day and the Seventh Human Rights Magna Meet in Kathmandu.
The meeting saw the participation of 162 organizations including the Beyond Beijing Committee and the National Human Rights Commission. President Bhandari was congratulated for her role in promoting gender equality for the past three decades and for the work she is expected to do in promoting human rights and equality in Nepal as the new president.
Impressions from the meeting
“Dalit women have to suffer the most because they are discriminated for their caste as well as for being women. The only way to eliminate discrimination in our society is through education and awareness. Nepal’s new constitution is a positive step forward towards equality in Nepal in terms of political, economic, social as well as cultural rights of women.”
Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal
“Across the world and here in Nepal, women still enjoy fewer rights and freedoms than men. When women’s rights are not fulfilled, all of society suffers. For this reason there is a need to talk about human rights in general, but also about women’s rights in specific so that women’s rights can be better respected, protected and fulfilled.”
Ziad Sheikh, UN Women Representative on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator
“The real progress of a nation state only takes place when women are equal, when women are in decision-making positions and when they have equal power like men do. The new Nepali constitution has opened doors for inclusion and equality, especially for women of Nepal.” The 2030 goal to achieve gender equality is very important. The Government of Nepal needs to step up efforts to achieve the 50:50 by 2030.
C.P. Mainali, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare
“We are confident that the state will ensure political, social, economic and cultural human rights to all Nepalese without discrimination on the basis of gender or caste.”
Shanta Laxmi Shrestha, Chair of the Beyond Beijing Committee, Coordinator of the Magna Meet
"After years of struggle, we finally have a constitution that will ensure women are represented--the challenge now will be to draft laws that are women-friendly and implement the constitution in true spirit....we are confident that the new woman president of Nepal will continue her fight for women's equality and lead Nepal to a gender inclusive country."
Sharmila Karki, former president of the NGO Federation
“The National Human Rights Commission has a slogan that says ‘Human Rights in every home’, the deeper meaning of that is that the women in each household have to be empowered, only then can human rights be ensured. The preamble of the new Constitution of Nepal ensures fundamental rights, those fundamental rights should not be held hostage by gender unfriendly laws, we have to make sure that the laws that we make now ensures human rights and gender equality as well."
Anup Raj Sharma, Chair of the National Human Rights Commission