By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Mar 25: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Julie Kumari Mahato stressed that women’s full and effective participation in public life and decision-making process underpins Nepal’s development aspirations to create an inclusive, just, and equitable society, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations stated in its statement.
Addressing the 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women through a pre-recorded video Tuesday afternoon, she underscored the structural barriers and challenges hindering women’s effective participation in public life and then called for an enhanced-level international support and cooperation in achieving gender-related SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) by 2030.
She also highlighted Nepal’s major achievements made in the field of gender equality and women empowerment.
Equal lineage and property rights, safe motherhood and reproductive health rights and women’s right to participate in all State structures are ensured in the Constitution based on the principle of proportional representation, she stated.
She reiterated Nepal’s zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence and stated that recently enacted National Gender Equality Policy 2021, Acid and Other Lethal Chemical Substances (Regulation) Ordinance, and the Ordinance to Amend the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code are expected to be instrumental in establishing gender friendly governance at all levels.
Mahato underlined the significant increase in the representation of women at the elected posts of the federal, provincial, and local levels and expressed Nepal’s commitment to ensuring gender equality and women empowerment, thereby eliminating all forms of discrimination against women.
The 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women is being held from March 15 to 26 under the theme of ‘Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life’.
Nepali delegation to the Session, which is led by Hon. Ms. Mahato, includes the member of National Assembly Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal, Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Yam Kumari Khatiwada, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Amrit Bahadur Rai, gender expert Bandana Rana, and senior government officials.