Kathmandu, Feb 29: A workshop with an objective to contribute to the national assessment process of Beijing +5 review in Nepal was organised by UNDP here today. Speaking at the workshop as chief guest, State Minister for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Pant said, “the issue before us is not only the property rights and discrimination against women should be addressed as a whole.”

Stressing the need for the government to be sensitive to women’s issues, the State Minister said, “we need to work more as we are yet unable to change the laws in spite of the guarantee against discrimination provided in the Constitution.”

Deputy Speaker Chitralekha Yadav as the guest speaker stressed that State obligations expressed by Nepal in ratifying the CEDAW and Beijing Declaration must be met and the process of change hastened.

Expressing her commitment to an equitable society, Yadav said,” It is time for us to evaluate what we have achieved in the post-Beijing period about the twelve critical areas of concern.”

Sahana Pradhan, the president of Communist party of Nepal-ML said,” Rights of women are an integral part of human rights,” and lamented that the existing laws are not in accordance with the guarantee of fundamental rights in the Nepalese Constitution.

Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Saraswati Menon delivered the welcome speech and shed light on the objectives of the workshop. A presentation on Beijing+5 Nepal review was made by Dr Suman Tuladhar.

Conducted by the Assistant Resident Representative (gender) Bharati Silwal, the  Nationa Consultation on Beijing+5 workshop concluded with emphasis on economic empowerment and immediate amendments in the existing laws that can only be achieved through greater activism and pressure for equality.