A major regional meeting of inter-faith leaders kicked off in the capital on Monday with the objective of building positive partnerships to combat human trafficking, gender based violence and HIV.

Around 90 participants representing Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Nepal, are attending the three-day meeting titled “Building Positive Partnerships: Regional Interfaith Leaders’ Meeting and Partners’ Learning/Planning Workshop on Anti-Trafficking, Safe Migration, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and HIV” is organized by the United Nations Fund for Women Development (UNIFEM) Regional Office. The participants include various religious leaders from all over South Asia.

Addressing the meeting, Chandni Joshi, Regional Program Director of UNIFEM South Asia Office, said that since issues concerning human rights and human security have multiple layers, facets, dimensions and accountabilities, the UNIFEM has long realized the importance of working with several stakeholders facilitating networks and alliances. “With this realization, we have felt the significance of faith in the lives of women and men. It has the power to positively shape cultures, identities, mindsets and attitudes,” she said.

Inaugurating the meeting, Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal said faith leaders can change society’s traditional belief and attitudes. “They can bring about changes in ill practices such as child marriage and selective abortion,” she added.

Likewise, Sangeeta Thapa, program coordinator of UNIFEM, Nepal office, said the meeting was organized to share six years of work that has brought new partnerships.