16-Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence to be observed

Kathmandu, Nov 22: The 16-Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is to be observed nationwide since coming November 25.     

The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens is going to partner with various governmental and non-governmental agencies to celebrate the activism till December 10.     

The national theme for this global campaign s for this year is 'Our commitment: Solidarity for ending gender-based violence' while the international theme for this year is 'Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to end violence against women.'     

A rally will be organized at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on the inaugural day of the activism that calls for prevention and elimination of violence against women and girl.     

The rally will end at Bhrukutimandap while the celebratory programmes will run throughout the 16 days, said Mamata Bista, Chief Women Development Officer under the Ministry.     

Bista shared that the Ministry has allocated Rs 1 million to observe the activism. According to her, the Ministry has emphasized awareness programmes like in the past during the campaign.     

Also, deliberations will be held with lawmakers in various provinces.     

Furthermore, efforts will be coordinated with various social organizations for launching awareness drive in schools, Bista informed, adding that the Ministry was publishing a special booklet targeting the activism.     

."Every day, there will be a different event for running awareness campaign and to mark the activism," she noted.     

The activism commences on November 25 coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on December 10 marking the International Human Rights Day.     

The activism was originated by the activists at the first Centre for Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and is being celebrated by 187 countries since then.(RSS)