Kathmandu – According to the Vice-President of Nepal, H.E. Nanda Bahadur Pun Its quite upsetting that the violence and torment are being experienced by women and girls even in 21st Century.
In the inauguration of the conference jointly organized by National Human Rights Commission, National Women Commission, Women NGO Federation and Every Woman Treaty held at Shankar Hotel, Kathmandu on Tuesday Vice-President Pun also stated that 70% of the domestic violence victims are being are victimized by their own relatives.
Globally the reason for increasing violence in women and girls are Illiteracy, Ignorance, Unemployment, poverty and different types of war, climate change, Covid pandemic. So the minimization of violence incidents is only possible if all the countries internationally join their hands. He also committed that the rights for women and girls as mentioned in Nepal’s constitution will be implemented. He also stated that this conference will be the initiation to end violence in women and girls in South Asia.
Chairperson of National Human Rights Association, Mr. Top Bahadur Thapa mentioned that violence against women and girls is pervading so the initiation should be done in international level to diminish the violence. He also stated even though the law is made for violence against women and girls it is not effectively implemented so the government sector should increase their respective roles accordingly. He also said that since the violence against women and girls is also a kind of human rights violation, Human Rights Commission is also committed to stop violence against women and girls.
Chairperson of National Women Commission, Ms. Kamala Parajuli said that the participation of women in politics, social service, finance and other sectors has increased but this has also been a push factor in violence against them. Stating that the violence against women and girls are increasing nowadays she also pointed out that effective implementation of the rules and regulations made by our nation has been a great challenge to us.
At the conference, Member of National Women Commission, Ms. Lily Thapa said that international unity is required to address these kinds of violence to get diminish internationally. Since, it is also the violation of Human rights.
Ecofeminist and Social Activist, Dr. Vandana Shiva stated that the violence against women and girls is the violence against the society. She also mentioned that it is necessary to make international rules and regulations to end the violence against women and girls.
Writer and Women Activist Ms. Meera Khanna said that even though the violence against women and girls is increasing it is not able to draw the attention of the policy makers. She also mentioned the need of timely amendment of legal provisions to address the violence against women and girls in South Asia.
Speaking at the program, General Secretary of SAARCH.E. Esala Ruwan Weerakoon said that several forms of discrimination is triggering the violence against women and girls adding that the SAARC would prioritize gender equality ending such discrimination.
“Various speakers including Human right activists, authors, women human rights activists from South Asia and America will give their presentation on different topics during the conference that will run till Wednesday”, said Nirmala Sharma, Senior Journalist and President at South Asian Women in Media Network in Nepal.
During the second half session of the first day of the conference delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka presented on different topics. President of Women NGO Federation (WNF) Nepal Ms. Sashi Adhikari highlighted the importance of global efforts ending all forms of violence against women and girls, during the session chaired by Member at National Planning Commission, Ms. Saloni Singh.
Various issues including violence against women and girls, impact of COVID-19 in women, importance of addressing violence against women and girls to achieve sustainable development were discussed during the second session.
The experts in the second session presented on CEDAW, impact of war in women lives and violence against women and girls in their health.
