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Press Release
08 October 2024
UN and Humanitarian Partners Mobilize Response to Support Flood-Stricken Communities in Nepal’s Climate Crisis
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Press Release
04 September 2024
Nepal Civil Society Conference Paves the Way for Nepal's Future Amid Global Challenges
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Press Release
20 August 2024
Concerted Efforts Required To Mobilize Finance For Sustainable Development In Nepal
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Nepal
Nepal committed to the SDGs early on, and this commitment has been reaffirmed in key policy documents, such as the current 15th Development Plan and the 25 Year Long-Term Vision 2100 that internalises the Goals. SDGs codes are assigned for all national development programmes through the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. Further, Nepal has prepared the SDG Status and Roadmap to localize the SDG indicators with baselines and targets for 2030. Other key documents are a SDGs Needs Assessment, a Costing and Financing Strategy, and additional SDGs Localization Guidelines. Finally, Nepal has conducted a Development Finance Assessment (DFA) to provide an overview of development finance flows and institutions and policies that can align finance with national development priorities. These are the goals the UN is working on in Nepal:
Story
03 July 2023
UN Nepal Piloting PSEA Integration into Development Programming and UNSDCF Implementation
To prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) at all levels and to ensure SEA is addressed as the top priority, the PSEA co-chairs in Nepal-UN Resident Coordinator Office and UN Women with the support from WHO- organized the first of its kind workshop on June 21-22 for the UN agency key focal points to capacitate them to integrate PSEA into the UN Sustainable Cooperation Framework (CF).
The workshop piloted by the UN in Nepal brought together 32 participants from the PSEA Working Group and the CF Outcome Working Groups. Jointly the participants identified opportunities for PSEA to inform and be integrated into CF outcomes, processes, and tools. The participants also prioritised a set of key actions and recommendations for the Outcome Working Groups, PSEA Network and the UNCT.
The 1.5-day workshop was facilitated by Lian Yong, Asia Pacific inter-agency PSEA Coordinator, together with Tej Maya Dangol, Nepal PSEA Coordinator and UN RCO and UN Women staff members.
Feedback from the workshop was positive, as it enabled key agency focal points time and space to think deeply about opportunities within their own agencies as well as collectively for the UNCT.
Lessons learned from this workshop will be taken and applied both at the regional Asia/Pacific level as well as globally. It is hoped that this pilot can be replicated in other contexts supporting the UN’s move from PSEA at the policy level to concrete actions at the ground level.
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Press Release
03 December 2020
Oped : The challenges people with disabilities face
Richard Howard
The year 2020 has thrown unprecedented challenges at all of us, both in Nepal and globally. The pandemic has also impacted people disproportionally. Persons with disabilities that make up 15 percent of the world population, or one billion, are among the hardest hit by Covid-19. One in every five women is likely to experience disability in her life, while one in every 10 children is living with a disability. Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80 percent live in developing countries. These numbers provide a backdrop for thinking about our response to Covid-19 and how we make a dedicated effort to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind. We must ensure their inclusion in our response and recovery efforts.
Some disabilities are not visible. Chronic pain, mental illness, chronic fatigue are a few types of invisible disabilities that control people’s lives but do not show in obvious ways. These are people who are regularly told that their disabilities are not real, are made up for sympathy or only imagined and could not possibly be a real medical condition since they walk free from canes or crutches, have functioning limbs, and can seemingly move their bodies just like the rest of us. Society needs to be built so that it is accessible to everyone, including those with less visible disabilities.
Nepali society, like most societies, should promote greater understanding and increased accessibility for people with disabilities, who are often treated differently or excluded from the opportunities and conversations open to others. They are pressed to navigate a world that is not built for them. Kindness, compassion and consideration are a good start to ensure that we see and support those who may struggle and suffer in normal times and in times of crisis.
When this pandemic passes, the world must be a different place, and it is a chance to reimagine a society in which people with disabilities have better lives; where they do not have to fight to be seen and included, and where they are not merely an afterthought. People with disabilities should participate in our response and recovery from Covid-19 at all stages, and they should hold us accountable to deliver on our promises.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I hope that we can all begin to envision a society that everyone can participate in, one that changes how we see and interact with disabilities as equal partners, particularly those with invisible disabilities. It is a chance to build back better and challenge inequalities at every step.
A big step in the right direction is to break the silence, speak up and wipe away the biases held against people with disabilities, to banish the stereotypes, and slowly dissipate the stigma facing people with disabilities. These changes start with each of us making a commitment. There are myriad ways in which the world can transform to remove obstacles for people with disabilities to access the opportunities the rest have, from access to economic opportunity and healthy workspaces to accessible infrastructure and health services.
Richard Howard
Howard is the UN Resident Coordinator ad interim in Nepal and is the Director of ILO Nepal
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Story
12 October 2020
Young Girls in rural Nepal are choosing early marriage to escape poverty and discrimination
The zinc sheet roofs, mud huts and wooden pillars of Namuna Basti shows poverty reigns. Namuna Basti is a labyrinth of lanes with 55 closely packed housing units inhabited by impoverished Badi community- the poorest and most marginalized groups (Dalits) in Nepal who are also considered the “untouchables”. It lies just out of eyesight from the nearest bigger town in the Karnali Province. In the community, young women with children are a common sight. About 90 percent of the women from Namuna Basti are married before the age of 20, which speaks to the alarming prevalence of child marriage here.
An Arial view of Namuna Basti.
Child marriage in Nepal is driven by a complex web of factors., Key among them is caste-based and gender-based discrimination, especially when combined with poverty.
In Nepal’s rural communities, parents often choose marriage for girls because, once married, daughters customarily leave their homes to enter into their husbands’ household and cannot financially support their parents like their sons. It leads families to prioritize education and even basic survival needs, such as food, for boys over girls, which is one of the reasons why child brides and their children are more likely to be malnourished.
Due to the existence of a deeply embedded patriarchal norms and unequal power relations, Nepal has a high prevalence of deeply-rooted traditional practices such as caste-based discrimination, chhaupadi and menstrual restrictions, child marriage, dowry, and witchcraft accusation and persecution. These practices often create significant barriers to the realization of human rights, particularly for women and persons from excluded groups. Despite significant advances in legislative and policy frameworks made over the past few years, these practices continue to pervade in Nepal.
In 2018, in recognition of these practices being barriers to realizing the UN’s commitments to Agenda 2030 and the principle of Leaving No One Behind, the United Nations Country Team in Nepal with the support of DCO innovation funds carried out a Perception Survey on five of the above-mentioned practices. The survey, conducted in 16 districts within Province 2, 6 and 7 covering 4,000 respondents, was led by the United Nations Resident Coordinators Office in Nepal.
Rama (name changed), a 22-year-old girl from Namuna Basti was born into a Badi family. Due to poverty her parents could not afford her education. She started working in India as a full-time maid at the age of 13.
She had to spend more than 12 hours a day doing household chores, and she was desperately looking for an escape from her everyday hardship. With the hope to live a better life, seven years ago, she married the person she loved at the age of 15, despite the minimum age requirement for marriage being 20 years old under the Nepali Law. Her husband was 25
Rama’s husband belonged to the so called “upper-caste” Kshetriyas (also called Chhetris). In Nepal, the influence of caste — a social order rooted in Hindu scriptures and based on an identity determined at birth — cannot be disregarded.
In the perception of caste hierarchy, Brahmins and Chhetris remain at the top and Dalits, who make up almost 13.6 percent of Nepal’s population of more than 27.33 Million, are at the bottom. Due to this perceived hierarchy, discrimination based on caste remains pervasive. From the Perception Survey carried out by the UN, among the 4,000 respondents from 16 districts, 97% indicated that they have accepted the prevalence of caste-based discrimination in their locality.
Following their marriage, Rama returned to Nepal with her husband and began living with her in-laws. Being a Dalit woman, Rama was at high risk of experiencing both caste- and gender-based discrimination at her husband’s house. Fortunately, however, Rama’s husband protected her and facilitated her to be accepted as a member of the family.
Rama became pregnant almost immediately after her marriage. Knowing that pregnancy could be risky for Rama at her young age, her husband insisted to abort the baby. But she remained adamant and gave birth to their first child when she was just 16.
Within just five years of her marriage, her life took an unexpected turn, when a tragic road accident killed her husband.
Following the death of her husband, her in-laws began verbally abusing her and forced her to work endlessly. Rama left her husband’s house along with her children and began living with her mother in Namuna Basti.
Rama is now a 22-year-old widow and is a sole bread winner for her family. With poverty, lack of education and discrimination based on her caste that she faces every day, giving a decent life to her children is a constant struggle.
In the same Basti, Seema Badi (name changed) lives two houses apart from Rama. Seema, just like Rama, is a child bride who chose to get married on her own. She eloped with her boyfriend, who was two-class senior to her in school, when she just became a teenager.
Her mother initially brought Seema back from her boyfriend’s house and asked her to focus on her education and wait until she gained some maturity. To her mother’s dismay, Seema left the house for the second time to be with her boyfriend.
And what drove her to do that?
“To escape from poverty, discriminatory social norms and a desire to avoid a forced marriage to a stranger” was her answer.
“My mother was giving birth every other year. I had to support her either by babysitting my siblings or supporting the household chores. At school, I faced discrimination from my peers and my teachers for being a ‘Badi girl’” lamented Seema.
Recalling one of the incidents in school she said, “one day a big commotion took place in my class when I accidently touched my classmate’s tiffin box. Since she belonged to the upper-caste, my teacher thrashed me in front of my peers. That very moment, I lost faith in our education system and I tore my books in front of my teacher and left the class. I never returned to the class again.”
Seema, who is 21 and a mother of an 8-year-old girl, shares she is content with her present life. Her husband is working in the gulf country to make the ends meet for the family and pay for their daughter’s education.
“Together Forever” says Seema with happiness as she shows the initials of her husband and daughter's name inked on her left hand.
She however feels she could have achieved more had she listened to her mother and not eloped for the second time. But the societal pressure was one of the factors that constrained her from staying with her mother. “The rumor about me eloping with my boyfriend has already spread in the community. So, the only choice I had was to go back to the person I love because no one would have accepted me as a wife later,” shared Seema.
Seema does not want her daughter to repeat her same mistakes. She wants to invest in her daughter’s education so that her daughter can achieve her full potential. But the growing trend of voluntary “love marriages” among teenage children in marginalized communities, often prompted by the desire to escape poverty and discrimination, scares Seema.
Seema’s fear is not unfounded. The Perception Survey showed that 90% of the 4,000 respondents acknowledge that voluntary love marriage (Bhagi Bibaha) among minors is prevalent in their locality, while 19% indicated the continued prevalence of an arranged marriage (Magi Bibaha) among minors.
According to UNICEF, 15 million girls are married as children globally each year and Nepal has the third highest rate of child marriage in Asia, after Bangladesh and India.
The trend of young girls like Seema and Rama choosing early love marriage to cope with poverty and discrimination not only exposes them to a vicious cycle of inequality and insecurity, but also perpetuates the practice of child marriage, creating an obstacle to global development.
A 19-year-old girl from Dailekh district with her two children.
Child marriage is a core development and human rights issue which is directly linked with eight of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are Goals 1 (poverty), 2 (food security), 3 (health), 4 (education), 5 (gender equality), 8 (economic growth), 10 (inequality), and 16 (peace). Ending child marriage and investing more into the child’s future is therefore an indispensable responsibility of Nepal to ensure that it fully achieves the SDGs.
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Story
29 July 2024
Restoring a lifeline
Jajarkot Nepal: Before the earthquake that hit western Nepal in November 2023, residents of the village of Tallo Rimna in Bheri Municipality in Jajarkot District relied entirely on the Budbude Water Supply Project. This provided a steady source of clean water not just for the community but also for the local Shree Bheri Triveni Secondary School. However, when the earthquake wiped out the Budbude spring, residents were left grappling with a severe water crisis and forced to find alternatives. Other water sources were too far away. Fetching water involved a difficult one-to-two-hour round trip, causing delays for schoolchildren and safety risks, especially at night. Women, who typically shouldered the water collection, faced increased dangers and had less time for other tasks, impacting their families' economic stability. Furthermore, the community faced additional hardships when using water sources shared with another community. “They often treat us poorly,” says Tallo Rimna local Gaumati Rana. “We are made to wait longer in line for water, and occasionally there are even fights. Sometimes, we have to come back with just half our pots filled.”As of now, families are drinking this water directly without filtering or chlorinating. Given that the quality of water taken directly from these sources cannot be guaranteed, this further threatens the overall health and well-being of the community. In response to these risks, a new water supply project was established under the Joint Recovery Action Plan (JRAP). JRAP was launched in 2024 by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in partnership with United Nations Nepal and with the generous support of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). This joint programme is being implemented by four UN agencies – IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP – under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.And so, under JRAP, UNICEF and local partners have initiated the Tallo Rimna Lifting Water Supply Project, with the objective of restoring reliable access to clean water for all 70 households and improving their living conditions. As per the plan, a deep boring well will be dug in the bed of the Bheri River, and water pumped up into a reservoir tank, from where it will piped to all homes in the village. The materials for the project have already been bought, and the project is expected to be completed within a few months’ time. Significant progress has already been made, with digging for the reservoir tank well underway.Gaumati Rana, the treasurer of the water users' committee set up with project support to ensure sustainability, expresses the sense of hope she feels: "Having the project start makes me feel happy from the heart because I know it will not only serve our multiple needs for water but also improve our health."For sustainability, the project includes training locals in repair and maintenance to ensure the long-term functionality of the water supply system. Additionally, sanitation and safe water awareness sessions will also be carried out. The Tallo Rimna Lift Water Supply Project is thus expected to do more than restore clean water; it will help the community recover from the earthquake. Children will be able to attend school without delays, health risks will decrease, and the burden on women will lighten. As Gaumati puts it simply, “We feel more positive now.”
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Story
29 July 2024
A safe space for healing
Rukum West, Nepal: On 3 November 2023, eleven-year-old Ritu found her life changed dramatically. Among the lives lost in the devastating earthquake that hit western Nepal that day was that of her best friend, a tragedy that left Ritu deeply traumatized and fearful. The once bright and curious sixth grader from Aaathbiskot Municipality in Rukum West District became withdrawn, reluctant to leave her home, and uninterested in school or games.Ritu’s family and teachers grew increasingly concerned. “She was a different child,” her parents recall. “She used to be so lively.... The earthquake took that away from her.”To address the widespread impact of the earthquake on children and families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in partnership with United Nations Nepal and with the generous support of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), launched the Joint Recovery Action Plan (JRAP) this year. This joint programme is implemented by four UN agencies – IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP – under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.As part of JRAP, in recognition of the psychological trauma children face during and after disasters, UNICEF and local partner SOSEC Nepal have established four Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) across the region. Located in Jajarkot (Bheri and Nalgad Municipalities) and Rukum West (Sanibheri and Aathbiskot Municipalities), these spaces provide safe and nurturing environments for children. The CFSs offer a place where children can heal, engage in activities, and recover from the disaster's effects. Approximately 200 children in the two districts are currently enrolled in the CFS programme, supported by four facilitators and eight volunteers.Despite the support available, Ritu was initially very hesitant to join the CFS. Understanding her reluctance, a counselor had reached out to her and her family. Over four focused sessions, the counselor gently encouraged Ritu to consider enrolling in the CFS. The turning point came when Ritu saw other friends from her neighborhood attending the CFS and enjoying their time there. Their positive experiences gradually convinced her to give it a try.With cautious optimism, Ritu joined the CFS, and the gradual transformation in her behavior was unmistakable. “The CFS gave her a platform to express her feelings and reconnect with her peers,” says the counselor. “It was heartwarming to see her slowly regain her confidence and enthusiasm.”Within the cheerful, supportive environment of the CFS, Ritu began to heal. She engaged in interactive activities and started showing a keen interest in playing again. Her fear began to dissipate, and she reconnected with her friends.Ritu’s parents and teachers noticed the positive changes. “She attends school regularly now,” her teacher says. “She’s eager to engage with her classmates again.”Ritu’s experience is thus a testament to how collaborative efforts under the JRAP can bring hope and healing to young children in the aftermath of disaster.
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Story
29 September 2023
From where I stand: “Do not wait for others to hand you your rights”
Her drive to fight for those rights comes from growing up in the far west of the country with a physical disability herself.
My lived experience as a woman with a disability is what drove me to become a disability rights activist. I grew upwatching society discriminate, insult, and shut away people with disabilities. Determined to overcome theseinjustices, I knew that a community was only as strong as its members who are furthest behind.
When I first started working on the rights of persons with disabilities, I found it difficult to speak up: I couldnot express myself well, I hesitated to talk in public. However, little by little, I gained confidence and learnedto raise my voice.
It is with this voice I say:
To women with disabilities: We have rights, and we must demand these rights. Do not wait for others to give you yourrights, take them yourself. Actively participate in life and advocate for yourself. I am with you – I will notstop working to increase public awareness of your rights, I will advocate for your participation in society, I willsupport you to pursue opportunities to generate income and be independent. We are equal as individuals, and powerfulwhen we speak with a united voice. Put your hesitations aside, and know that behind you is the strength of womenwith disabilities everywhere.
To the community: We can be stronger if we worked together. We, people with disabilities, know that we can contributeto the community, just as abled persons contribute. The difference between women and women with disabilities is inthe way that you treat us – there is no difference in terms of the value of our contributions. Let us worktogether to realise and recognize the contribution of persons with disabilities, and to put an end to shame andsilencing. Only when we work together can the community move forward together.
To the parents, guardians, and caretakers of children with disabilities: Let’s empower the next generation ofpersons with disabilities through education. Government and private schools allocate scholarships for children withdisabilities. I am advocating with schools to ensure these scholarships are realized. Talk to your local schoolabout enrolling your child and getting them involved in school clubs. As a mother, guardian and caretaker myself, Iknow it is hard to see your child leave the home, especially if they have special needs. But the education yourchild will receive and friendships they will make will carry them forward in the future.
To the government: Take additional measure to provide women with disabilities with legal identity cards, for this isthe key to accessing government services and support. Identity cards are doubly important for women withdisabilities as they have a greater reliance on government services and support, such as healthcare, subsidies,legal aid, and more, due to their lower income and ability to afford alternative services. Additionally, ensurebudgets are allocated and spent in support of persons with disabilities. Don’t think that we don’t knowabout the policies and programmes – we know them very well.
For my part, I will continue to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities, and to promote awareness andunderstanding within communities. Yesterday, people feared telling others they are living with a disability; familymembers hesitated to support relatives with a disability to participate in festivals and weddings; and societyside-lined persons with disability from participating in community life. Tomorrow is a new day, and anotheropportunity to move forward in support of a new lived experience for women with disabilities; one that is just, fullof opportunity, and celebrates everyone’s contribution, no matter their ability.
UN Women with support from the Government of Finland and United Nation Partnerships on the Rights of Persons withDisabilities has been supporting gender-responsive and inclusive sub-national governance in Nepal’sSudurpaschim Province. Sharada Bista was a participant of this initiative.
UN Women promotes the rights of women with disabilities, in line with the United Nations Convention on theElimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Conventiononthe Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other multilateral agreements. The InternationalPrinciples and Guidelines on Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities were developed by theOffice ofthe United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and have been endorsed by the International Commission ofJurists and the International Disability Alliance.
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Story
29 September 2023
LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF: REFLECTIONS OF A BISEXUAL DALIT WOMAN
Dear M,
It will take some time for us to understand and become aware of our identities. You see, we have multiple identities. You are Dalit. You are female. You are bisexual. After completing your master’s degree, you also develop an interest in writing, in exploring your personal identity – this letter shares some of your experiences.
You belong to the Dalit community and will experience different levels of disparity from childhood to adulthood. People will start treating us differently when they realize our caste. As a female, you will face disparities in school and in the village. As a bisexual, you will also face many difficulties. All these multiple identities, and the experiences that come with them, will lead to a lot of mental health difficulties.
We are still not very open about our sexual orientation. You will feel like nobody really understands bisexual orientation at school. All your friends express attraction towards the opposite gender. But you are attracted to both girls and boys, and you didn’t tell anyone out of fear. Later, when you start to express your orientation, you will face some challenges in college. While you are studying for your bachelor’s degree, you will get a proposal for marriage. But you find yourself struggling with your feelings, so you make an excuse that you need some time before marriage. This will be a difficult decision to make. Then, during your master’s degree, you will tell your friend about your sexual orientation, and she will stop speaking to you for three years. She didn’t understand then, but later she will join a social organization where she learns about gender issues – now she behaves normally with us. Until now, our family is still unaware about our sexual orientation. We have also not told them. I don’t know why.
I want to tell you a story. You had a heterosexual friend who you were close with a few years back and were working on a group project with, along with two to three other friends. You will try to share your sexual orientation with the group but will be unable to because of their negative perceptions of LGBTIQ+ people. A few months later, you will be in a small gathering. At that gathering, your heterosexual friend will propose to you in front of our other friends. It will be very awkward. But you will go speak privately with him and share everything about your sexual orientation. But he won’t believe your words and request you to change yourself. You will want to go far away from that place. This incident will mentally torture you a lot.
Based on your experience, you believe every LGBTIQ+ person faces some form of violence. You will experience psychological violence. Sometimes, when you post photos from events and say that you work with LGBTIQ+ communities, people will send you abusive messages. But others face physical violence too and get beaten up and thrown out of their homes by their own family members. There are even some rape cases or acts of sexual violence. Despite working and trying, things are still not so easy. But we will continue.
Yours warmly,
M
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Story
29 September 2023
Looking at gender-based violence from another perspective
As the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence 2021 is coming to an end, it is high time for us to broaden our approach to be more intersectional and to cover a diverse range of experiences in our society. Read more about how Dia Yonzon, a national Youth UN Volunteer working in the capacity of Youth Programme Support Officer, sees gender-based violence from a queer perspective.
Historically, the accounts of gender-based violence have left behind the non-binary experience that is a grappling reality for many individuals living with and among us.
In the context of Nepal, violence against trans and non-binary persons are adversely affecting the daily life of people. Yet, seldom do we find coverage in the mainstream media and resources are difficult to access for help.
Still the question begs to be asked: how can we eradicate these harmful practices if we don’t even talk about trans and non-binary persons or use our platforms to allow people to find their voices?
In order to find answers to these questions, in 2020, I spent 11 months as a trainee to the Deputy Representative of UN Women Nepal. In my time, I began experiencing how the heteronormative gender binary was institutionalized as the default within our society. I found myself primarily occupied in untangling and figuring out where I fit and later, I decided to rejoin the same agency as a national Youth UN Volunteer working in the capacity of Youth Programme Support Officer.
I recall when the COVID-19 pandemic began getting severe and the UN in Nepal created the separate category - male and female - group forum and therapy; I found these spaces heavily catered to hetero-binary needs.
To create safe spaces for trans and non-binary persons facing hate crimes during the pandemic, I co-founded Rainbow café with other queer staff and allies, an open platform for anyone to join and discuss or listen in about LGBTIQ+ related issues and topics. We brought in senior UN Staffs who were also queer to talk and share their experiences with younger and newer UN Staffs who were navigating their places in the system.
"Looking at gender-based violence from a queer perspective, I believe language is essential both as a communication tool and as the system's blueprint - as it's the first step forwards inclusion.
Indeed, in ending gender-based violence, our language should acknowledge the experiences of trans and non-binary individuals. And rather than fitting people's diverse experiences as an afterthought, I urge people to collect stories as valuable data for future inclusion, like what we are doing with Rainbow café.
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Press Release
08 October 2024
UN and Humanitarian Partners Mobilize Response to Support Flood-Stricken Communities in Nepal’s Climate Crisis
The Nepal Floods Response Plan prioritizes 193,000 people, with an immediate funding requirement of US$ 17.5 million to provide urgent assistance to the most vulnerable and most affected people and communities.With 246 fatalities, 183 injuries, and 18 individuals still missing, the floods have caused widespread devastation in 21 districts, seven of which have been severely impacted. Thousands of families have been displaced, with over 10,000 households sheltering in overcrowded temporary camps, struggling to access basic needs like clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. Damage assessments reveal extensive destruction of critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, health facilities, and schools, as well as significant losses in agriculture and energy sectors. “Families and communities in Nepal are reeling from devastating floods and landslides that have compounded existing vulnerabilities to disasters and climate shocks. This response plan is a unified commitment of the Humanitarian Country Team to provide lifesaving assistance to the communities who need and deserve our support to face the devastating consequences of the global climate crisis. We need to stand by them as we globally face a very real, yet uncertain, climate future” said Ms. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal.The Nepal Floods Response Plan supports the government's "build-back-better" strategy, focusing on urgent food, water, shelter, and protection needs. It prioritizes vulnerable groups—women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—ensuring equitable access and addressing risks like disease, protection issues, and food insecurity. Donor support towards the US$17.5 million urgently required through this plan would ensure UN agencies and humanitarian organizations are capacitated to fully support the people and Government of Nepal. As the floods developed on 29 September, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) triggered US$3.4 million for Anticipatory Action (AA) in Sunsari and Saptari districts, prioritizing vulnerable populations in Koshi and Madhesh provinces. This anticipatory approach, piloted and implemented by FAO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP, is a vital effort to safeguard lives and livelihoods in flood- affected communities.In close collaboration with the Government of Nepal, the Humanitarian Country Team, UN agencies and partners will intensify efforts to provide life-saving relief and restore livelihoods, ensuring communities have the resilience to rebuild in the wake of yet another climate-driven disaster.#For Further Information contact: Simrika SharmaNational Information Officer Email: simrika.sharma@un.org Tel: +977 5523200 Ext. 1510
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Press Release
04 September 2024
Nepal Civil Society Conference Paves the Way for Nepal's Future Amid Global Challenges
The Nepal Civil Society Conference for the Summit of the Future organized by the United Nations Nepal (UN Nepal), NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) and Association of International NGOs in Nepal (AIN) on 3 September, brought together national and international civil society organizations and those representing women, youths and marginalized groups to discuss how Nepal can better contribute to shape the Summit of the Future and better utilize the Pact of the Future—the outcome document of the Summit of the Future—in the support of realizing Nepal’s development priorities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at the conference, the Chief Guest Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba emphasized on the critical role that civil society organizations (CSOs) can play in taking Nepal’s peace process to the meaningful conclusion, contributing to the implementation of the recently adopted laws on transitional justice. She further emphasized their role in shaping the future, influencing policy reforms and making governance more transparent and inclusive. She further stressed on unified efforts and shared responsibility to address challenges, promote accountability towards multilateral system, strengthen global governance, and foster intergovernmental solidarity for sustainable development, including for LDC graduating countries’ smooth transition and improved development cooperation through the Summit of the FutureAt the conference, the members of the civil society also stressed prioritization and inclusion of youth and marginalized communities at all levels of decision-making centering on equity, justice, and diversity. On behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Hanaa Singer Hamdy, Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNESCO Representative to Nepal, Mr Michael Croft, said “The UN in Nepal is proud to co-host the critical Civil Society Conferences in the lead-up to the Summit of the Future. As a major player in the wheel of development, it is crucial to meaningfully feed civil society perspectives into the pact of the future. Therefore I hope the outcome document of the Nepal CSO conference which delved around consolidating Nepal’s peace process, ensuring inclusive and sustainable development and meaningful youth participation at all levels, will be a place to start the critical multistakeholder coalitions of Member States, civil society, and UN to achieve inclusive sustainable development and lasting peace. Mr. Ram Prasad Subedi, chairperson of NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) spoke about Nepal's significant challenges in the economic, social, and cultural sectors and highlighted the importance of involving international NGOs in discussions on peace and justice, stressed the need to retain young talent in Nepal for the country's progress. He said, “Countries should invest in peace and development rather than militarism and war.” Mr. SP Kalaunee, chairperson of AIN, emphasized the importance of timely discussions on envisioning the future. He also cautioned that while LDC graduation will bring changes, transformations won't happen overnight, and efforts must continue to address current challenges, always keeping people at the center of the SDG efforts. An outcome document on behalf of Civil Society Organizations was also presented at the conference. The document outlines citizen perceptions and demands regarding the SDGs and the upcoming Summit of the Future, emphasizing the need for actionable plans with accountability, equitable resource distribution, and stronger international commitments, particularly from developed countries. It calls for the inclusion of marginalized communities in decision-making, expanded civil liberties, investment in youth, and a greater role for civil society in achieving the SDGs, among others. The conference, which featured three-panel discussions on Consolidating Nepal’s Peace Process to Promote International Peace and Security, Strengthening Inclusion and Equality for Sustainable Development, and Youth and Digital Transformation for Gender, Social, and Climate Justice, underscored the need for continued collaboration and concrete action to ensure Nepal’s progress towards 2030 SDG targets is inclusive and sustainable. The conference has shaped Nepal’s position at the upcoming Summit of the Future. #For Further Information contact: Simrika SharmaNational Information Officer UN Information Center Email: simrika.sharma@un.org Tel: 5523200 Ext. 1510
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Press Release
21 August 2024
Concerted Efforts Required To Mobilize Finance For Sustainable Development In Nepal
Kathmandu, August 20: The Government of Nepal, the private sector, and the UN in Nepal have emphasized on mobilizing sufficient development finance to achieve Nepal’s key development targets including the SDGs. During The Financing for Development Dialogue: Nepal’s Road to the Summit of the Future organized by the United Nations Nepal (UN Nepal) in partnership with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal’s pertinent stakeholders in finance and development highlighted the requirement of additional investment to achieve sustainable development and accelerate structural transformation of the economy. Speaking at the inauguration session, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prashad Poudel pointed out that in developing countries, a significant portion of revenue is spent on debt servicing, leaving little for development investment. He emphasized that Nepal is no exception and called for collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to mobilize resources. He also stressed the importance of formulating a common position for the upcoming Summit for the Future at the United Nations and noted that this dialogue would contribute to that effort.Four years after a series of global shocks – including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts and economic instability – the SDG financing gap for developing countries like Nepal has ballooned to USD 4 trillion annually. The financing gap and accompanying debt challenges have worsened poverty and inequality, putting the world off track to meet international targets set in 2015. The UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Ms. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy underlined that as Nepal spearheads towards graduation from its Least Developed Country status, bold and decisive actions to strengthen economic foundations is needed by focusing on domestic reforms, advancing financial inclusion and gender equality, embracing digital transformation, and advocating for international cooperation.Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the need for efforts at all levels to mobilize investment for development, particularly in the context of declining foreign direct investment, revenue, and foreign aid. He also mentioned that the federation has been organizing special programs to promote investment in Nepal and abroad and that a facilitation desk has been established to assist with foreign investment. In the dialogue, participants dived deep into the most pressing issues for accelerating progress towards SDGs—financing or lack of it—at the time of rising geopolitical tension, post-pandemic weaker economic recovery, more frequent and intense climate-related crisis, existing inequalities and disparities including those related to gender and social marginalization, and a new trade dynamic driven by protectionism and disengaged multilateralism, among others.
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Press Release
14 August 2024
Nepal Youth Summit empowers youth voices, calls for national and global actions on key issues facing young people
13 August, Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with the National Youth Council, in collaboration with the United Nations in Nepal and supported by civil society organizations, hosted the Nepal Youth Summit in celebration of International Youth Day. The summit, inaugurated on 12 August 2024 by the Rt. Honorable President of Nepal, Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel, and Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Teju Lal Chaudhary convened over 170 young leaders selected through extensive consultations with youth representatives from Nepal's seven provinces, involving hundreds of youth. The summit focused on six critical themes: Education and Digitization, Health, Migration, Decent Work and Social Protection, Climate Change, and Agri-Food Systems, providing a platform for young voices to address the issues that matter most to them. The Nepal Youth Summit was organized in preparation for the upcoming ‘Summit of the Future,’ scheduled to take place in New York on 22-23 September. World leaders, including a high-level delegation from Nepal, will gather at the United Nations to adopt the Pact for the Future, which includes a Declaration on Future Generations advocating for enhanced youth participation at all levels. In his address, Rt. Honorable President of Nepal, Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel, emphasized the importance of youth involvement in national development, highlighting the need for an environment that allows young people to fully exercise their political, economic, social, and cultural rights and implementing policies that create opportunities for them to contribute significantly to the nation’s development is crucial,”The two-day Nepal Youth Summit concluded with the presentation of a Youth Declaration to the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K P Sharma Oli, during the closing ceremony. This declaration will contribute to the Pact for the Future, outlining actions and commitments from member states to build a more resilient global community for present and future generations. The declaration also urged leaders to accelerate efforts to ensure access to skills and services that empower young people to reach their full potential; to create social and economic opportunities that drive youth development as Nepal advances toward middle-income status; to remove structural and persistent barriers, including harmful practices affecting women, girls, young people with disabilities, and those at risk of being left behind; and to take effective climate action for a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Upon receiving the Youth Declaration, Rt. Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. K P Sharma Oli, reaffirmed his commitment to conveying the hopes and aspirations of Nepali youth at the Summit of the Future in September. The PM also stressed on the crucial need to reduce poverty and create job opportunities for youth to meet the SDGs by 2030 and to obtain successful LDC Graduation. The UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Madam Hanaa Singer Hamdy emphasized meaningful participation of youth in decision-making, access to essential resources, and investment in skills and innovation for young people to have the power to drive economic growth, advance gender equality, combat climate change, and build a prosperous, sustainable future for all. The Nepal Youth Summit was preceded by youth consultations across all seven provinces, aimed at strengthening the knowledge, skills, and capacities of youth participants in areas such as education, health, migration, social protection, gender equality, climate change, and more.
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Press Release
31 July 2024
The UN in Nepal and Dhulikhel Hospital’s Strategic Collaboration to Transform Healthcare Delivery in Nepal & Advance the SDGs
Acknowledging the importance of partnership with academia under the UNSDCF and SDG Partnership program, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office and four UN agencies—UNFPA, UNICEF, IOM, and WHO—have signed the Joint Declaration of Intent with Dhulikhel Hospital. Speaking at the historic signing ceremony, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Madam Hanaa Singer Hamdy said, “Achieving the SDGs in Nepal requires strong partnerships with various sectors. We are hopeful that this collaboration with Dhulikhel Hospital will yield excellent results to improve healthcare, address public health issues, and support vulnerable populations through shared expertise and collaborative efforts ultimately supporting a healthier, more resilient Nepal for all." Through collaborative programs, the UN and the Dhulikhel Hospital will enhance post-COVID-19 recovery and resilience and improve primary healthcare delivery by sharing best practices and addressing public health challenges like infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases. The UN will support Dhulikhel Hospital on global health topics; engage in research projects to boost health outcomes; and conduct community outreach focused on health, nutrition, and social behavior change, particularly targeting vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. The Dhulikhel Hospital will provide technical expertise and share best practices to develop joint research projects.“This partnership marks a significant milestone in Nepal’s healthcare journey. We are confident that together, we can build a healthier future for all. By combining Dhulikhel Hospital’s expertise in the medical field and research, and with the UN’s global resources and network, we are poised to make a substantial impact on the health and well-being of the Nepalese people.” Said Professor Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, Executive Director of Dhulikhel Hospital.This joint UN collaboration as mandated by the UN Reform together with the Dhulikhel Hospital is expected to have a profound impact on the lives of countless Nepalese people and serve as a model for other countries in the region. #For Further Information contact: Simrika SharmaNational Information Officer UN Information Center; Email: simrika.sharma@un.orgTel: 5523200 Ext. 1510
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