International Conference on Gender Inclusion in NHRIs on September 3-5

Patan (Lalitpur), Aug 6: International Conference on Gender Inclusion in National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) will be taking place in Kathmandu on September 3-5.     

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will be organising the event in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions.     

The Conference which will be participated by 26 nations in the Asia Pacific intends to advocate for compliance with the pluralism principle, sustained efforts in gender mainstreaming, research, policy recommendations, capacity building, and resource allocation to ensure that NHRIs effectively promote and safeguard the human rights of women and girls, the NHRC said at a press meet here today.     

The NHRC hopes the Conference will prove a crucial platform to address and overcome the challenges faced by NHRIs in achieving gender equality within their structures and operations. "It aims to address the systemic barriers to gender equality in the internal and external works of these bodies and make gender equality a priority in the face of emerging global issues," the NHRC states.     

According to NHRC joint-secretary Nawaraj Sapkota, government representatives, national human rights institutes from 26 nations associated with the APF, United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, UN Development Programme Nepal, UN Women, and UNFPA are expected to make a presence at the event.     

On the occasion, NHRC Chair Top Bahadur Magar said the Conference will assess the Paris Principles through a gender perspective, identifying gender gaps in NHRIs, challenges for addressing them, and exploring potential ways for bridging such gaps.     

The Conference will focus on discussions to promote coordination and collaboration among the NHRIS, government, civil society, and others to strengthen NHRIs, implement the principle of pluralism, and for gender mainstreaming in NHRIs, he added.     

NHRC's member Lily Thapa said it is believed that the conference would guide to encourage dialogue between inter-human rights organisations, exchange good practices and promote gender mainstreaming and inclusion in national human rights organisations.     

Under-Secretary of the NHRC Sapkota shared that around 150 people would participate in the conference. A total of 17 countries including India, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand and Timor have expressed their commitment for participation so far.     

Discussion would be held in seven sessions in the three-day conference. The NHRC has also launched a website—Gender Conference NHRC to provide all information about the conference. (RSS)