96th International Women’s Day being celebrated: Women demand equal participation

March 8, 2006
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The 96th International Women’s Day is being celebrated today with the slogan “The role of women in decision making is central to the advancement of women around the world and to the progress of humankind as a whole.”

Nepal is celebrating the day amid very little participation of women in development process and representation in the decision-making level of the country.

The flaring conflict of the country has also adversely affected the development of women.

In a message on the occasion of the International Women’s Day UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, Matthew Kahane, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating conditions for women throughout the country. “In the past few weeks, women have been beaten to death, shot at, blown up by landmines and abducted across the country,” a press statement issued by the UN Information Centre quoted Kahane as saying.

“Today, the UN calls on combatants in Nepal to avoid, at all costs, targeting civilian women directly or accidentally, and to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law,” he said. “The UN also urges both parties to the conflict to unequivocally hold to account any soldier found to have sexually abused women or girls,” he added.

“Sparing women and girls from rape and sexual slavery is not just about human rights, but also about human decency and dignity. The targeting of women and girls destroys people’s capacities to create communal life,” he said.

Speaking at a programme organized on the eve of the Women’s Day women, leaders have demanded equal participation of women in the policy making level and amendment in discriminatory laws, according to reports.

Central committee member of CPN-UML Asta Laxmi Shakya, said the patriarchal society, which dominates women, has weakened the women’s movement.

Sarita Giri, central committee member of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) said, “Male political leaders are very rigid on the issue of women’s representation in the political parties, especially big ones,” adding, “There is the feeling of being superior among the male political leaders.”

Uma Adhikary, central member of the Nepali Congress, said, “Women’s rights cannot be ensured without democracy. Women want reservation in the decision-making level for a certain period of time, not because of their weakness and incapability, but for bringing about gender equality.”

Sapana Pradhan Malla, president of the Forum for Women, Law and Development, said, “Although women are hit the hardest due to the conflict, women’s participation in the peace process is lacking. The last two peace talks did not have meaningful representation of women.”

“Though many ordinances have been promulgated after the dissolution of the parliament, no initiation has been made to bring about positive changes in women’s context,” she added.

According to the 10th plan, the number of women stands at 11,587,503 (50.5 percent) of the total population of Nepal. But their strength in the public service stands at a meager 13.33 percent. Only 10.85 percent of women hold land ownership.

The Department of Women’s Studies, Padma Kanya Campus, on Tuesday paid tribute to mothers who have lost their children in the war by lighting 100,000 oil lamps at its gate.