PM Deuba for concerted efforts for women empowerment

Prime Minister Sher Bhadur Deuba has insisted on collective efforts for realizing the rights and empowerment of women. In his address to a function held to mark the 112nd International Women’s Day organised here today, Prime Minister Deuba urged one and all to proactively campaign to fight all kinds of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

Terming women’s empowerment as the common concern of all, the head of the government said three-tier governments needed to work from with respective competencies towards that end. He sought dedication from all bodies concerned to ensure socio-economic and political rights of women through effective enforcement of relevant laws. “The Constitution has guaranteed the rights of women as the fundamental rights,” the Prime Minister said adding that constitutionally women’s proportional representation in all State apparatus has been ensured.

As he explained, the Constitution has envisaged the building of a proportional, inclusive and equitable society by eliminating all kinds of discrimination against women, enshrining women’s right to equal lineage, safe motherhood and reproductive health; parental property, among others. "Any kind of violence and exploitation against women is punishable by law.”

The Prime Minister said, "The Day today itself is an inspiration to us to equally treat women in every aspects of social, political, cultural and economic lives and advance towards the path of gender equality." According to him, women’s representation and participation in political and administrative spheres have improved as a result of policy-level, legal, structural and procedurals reforms.

 Likewise, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Uma Regmi said women’s representation in political, economic and social sectors was gradually increasing, while the country achieved a significant fall in maternal mortality rate, rise in women’s literacy rate and economic empowerment indicators. “However, despite these noteworthy accomplishments, we face a grave challenge to do away with patriarchal thoughts, beliefs and conduct long existing in the society".

“Violence against women continues at private sphere, on the charge of practicing witchcraft, in the forms of rape, child marriage, sexual harassment, period-shaming, dowry, human trafficking and other multiple harmful practices against them and these are a total mockery of the human civilisation,” she said. She stressed the need to do away with violence and discrimination against women within the household sphere first to find a path towards socio-economic development.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal stressed the need for women to take initiatives to claim and realize their rights with their competence and efficiency. Stating that challenges still remain in state's policy and treatment for women to exercise their rights, she said that there was a need to continue their struggle to get their rights yet to be achieved and maintain other already achieved rights.

Similarly, Minister for Urban Development Ram Kumari Jhakri underscored the need for realizing women's rights to equality along with social justice, their proportional participation in every state organ and implementing their fundamental rights as ensured by the constitution in practice.

All should join hands to end prevailing rape and violence against women, she said.

On the occasion, Chairperson of the National Women Commission, Kamala Kumari Parajuli viewed that women's role and access should be increased and made more effective although their representation in the upper body of the state was a positive step.

Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission Top Bahadur Magar rued at increasing crimes of child marriage, rape and other violence against women. He blamed failure to implement laws for such crimes taking place. The Commission would play a special role in the promotion of human and women's rights, he pledged.

Member of National Planning Commission Saloni Pradhan Singh pointed out the need for continuing women's struggles to eradicate all kinds of discrimination against women and harmful practices.

Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Hari Prasad Mainali called for all state organs to coordinate in effectively implementing fundamental rights of women as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The programme was hosted by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens. The International Women's Day, 2022 is being observed across the country today with the slogan of 'Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow'.