Lalitpur, Mar. 25: Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said legislation concerning women’s rights and well-being should be formulated in such a manner that it does not violate social norms and values.
Speaker Ranabhat was inaugurating a seminar on the existing legislation concerning women’s rights and the need of improvement organised jointly by the National Assembly Social Justice and Gender Mainstreaming Programme and the UNDP here today.
Stressing the need to ensure that women are not deprived of the rights provided by the state and society, he said education comes first when it comes to promoting awareness among women.
At a time when a lack of awareness has come in the way of women’s empowerment the need to increase the women’s literacy rate has been strongly felt, he said.
Parliament and its members are sensitive to matters concerning the rights of women and children, he added.
CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said women’s empowerment and awareness will continue to be limited to slogans unless a drastic attitudinal change is brought about.
He stressed the need of an effective movement to end discrimination against women and wipe out the remnants of feudalism from the society.
Opposition party leader in the National Assembly Yuvaraj Gyawali spoke of the need to strengthen women economically so as to enable them to claim their rights.
President of Nepal Peasants and Workers Party and mp narayan Man Bijukshe stressed the need for extensive discussions on any bills before their passage by parliament and said it is equally important to monitor whether the bills passed by parliament are properly implemented.
MP Basudev Risal described the outmoded social practice, discriminations and inequality as impediments to women’s upliftment, while Samyukta Janamorcha mp Lilamani Pokhrel called for strict legislation to control women trafficking and flesh trade.
MP Rajeshwor Devkota said given the present social fabric and need of the time the demand for women’s inheritance right is quite irrelevant. He stressed the need for strict legislation to control sexual exploitation and women trafficking.
NC central member Miss Shailaja Acharya was of the view that unless women move ahead unitedly it will be very difficult for them to enjoy equal rights in a male dominated society.
CPN-ML President Mrs Sahana Pradhan stressed the need for women’s inheritance right and for effective measures to control evil practices like child marriage, polygamy and women trafficking.
Undp resident representatives Dr Henning Karcher stressed the need for equal participation of women in development activities and said that women should be given equal rights in every sector in order to encourage their participation in development.
MP Mrs Ambika Pant pointed out the weak implementation aspect of women related legislation as a barrier to women’s empowerment.
From the chair, mp Jivanprem Shrestha hoped that the seminar would provide important input to the bill designed to amend the civil code.
Mp shanta Gyawali and various others also expressed their views on women’s rights.
Experts concerned are scheduled to present working papers on various topics like women’s reproductive right, enheritance right, child exploitation, child marriage and divorce during the two-day seminar.
The seminar is being attended by members of both Houses of Parliament, lawyers, human right activists and ngo representatives.