Strategic Planning of MenEngage Alliance Nepal Announced
Date:
Kathmandu - MenEngage Alliance Nepal with largest active male activists from the country's broadest spectrum of professions, announced its support to promote gender equality by becoming partners, supporters and champions of Women's Rights.
During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, MenEngage Allianace Nepal launched its three year strategy 2015-2017 at its Strategic Planning Programme. With support of UN Women Nepal, the network revamped its forward-looking roadmaps for how to achieve goals of engaging men and boys as new counterparts to position gender equality and women's empowerment.
Excellency Kalyan Shrestha, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, as the Guest of Honour, has emphasized on the need of ending gender-based violence and discrimination through active participation of men and boys, as envisioned in the new Constitution of Nepal.
'Gender-based violence is detrimental not only to women and girls but to the nation as a whole,' said Chief Justice Shrestha at the national conference of activists for gender equality. The conference underway in the capital is organized by MenEngage Alliance Nepal in collaboration with UN Women.
The alliance's members have later approved its Strategic Planning of the network for 2015-2017 with a focus on awareness and advocating programme in the sectors of media, education and public sphere. In the initial phase the plan will cover up to seven districts of the county from the central to the grassroots level.
Similarly, Ziad Sheikh, Country Representative for UN Women Nepal Office said achieving gender equality remains a challenge to the world and though many good initiatives have been taken to address inequality the transformation has not been as expected. He further opined that men and boys should sincerely adopt gender equality in their public and private life to help make it a reality in the society.
Mr. Sheikh on the occasion described Chief justice Mr. Shrestha as an ideal personality for gender equality both in words and practice, and urged the men and boys to follow him as a role model.
According to the senior human rights activist and outgoing president of NGO Federation Nepal Ms. Sharmila Karki the country lacks suitable laws for gender equality while the implementation of the prevalent laws is also contested.
Ms.Shanti Lakshmi Shrestha, coordinator of Human Rights Magna Meet 2015 called for inputs from all to make the 16 days activism against Violence against Women successful. The participation alone of males won't suffice as what is required is their meaningful involvement in the campaign.
Gender expert Ms. Sharu Joshi, members of Network Management Committee Mr. Tanka Panta, Mina Bista, Krishna Thapa, Bhakti Thapa also spoke at the programme chaired by Mr Kapil Kafle, the coordinator of the network.
Around 100 delegates from 20 districts across Nepal are taking part in the two-day conference.
For more informaiton contact
Kirti Thapa
Programme Officer- Ending Violence Against Women
Governance and Leadership, Unit
UN Women Nepal