UN Women Deputy Representative participates in the SDGs Roadshow in Nepalgunj

Author: Monica Upadhyay

Nepalgunj, Nepal – UN Women Deputy Representative Gitanjali Singh was in Nepalgunj today to participate in the SDGs Roadshow organized by the UN Country team in Nepal on the occasion of the 71st UN Day to raise awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Photo: UN Women/Monica Upadhyay

The SDGs, adopted unanimously by 193 Heads of State and other top leaders at a summit in New York in September 2015, calls on all countries in the world to achieve 17 Goals and 169 targets by 2030 to end poverty, fight gender inequalities and tackle climate change.

The year 2016 marks the beginning of the implementation of SDGs.

“To achieve these ambitious and transformative goals, engagement of and commitment by all actors are essential. They include not only the national governments but also parliaments, local governments, civil society organizations, media, businesses and entrepreneurs, scientists and academia and most importantly people themselves. This is a reason why the information on SDGs need to be disseminated as widely as possible at all levels, hence this Roadshow”, said Tomoo Hozumi, Acting UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal. “One of the fundamental principles that underpin the new goals is equity under the phrase of ‘no-one must be left behind’. People who are hardest to reach should therefore be given priority,” Hozumi said.

Speaking during the event, UN Women Deputy Representative Gitanjali Singh said, “Recent data shows 143 out of 195 countries guarantee equality between women and men in their constitutions. Yet we all know discrimination against women and girls persists in many areas directly or indirectly. Nepal has made significant progress on normative commitments to GE/WE. There are several laws and policies to achieve Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Going forward we need to focus on addressing the implementation deficit.”

The roadshow, which also included a street drama on gender-based violence was participated by the local government officials, civil society organizations, NGOs, youth groups, academic institutions and media.