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Press Release
29 March 2024
Stock Exchanges and Global Partners Rally to Advance Gender Equality
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Press Release
19 January 2024
Press Statement : First Annual Joint Steering Committee Meeting of Nepal and the UN Concludes
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Press Release
19 December 2023
United Nations urges investments and actions to end Gender Based Violence 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 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
Working together to break the silence on menstrual taboos in Nepal
According to a study by the UN Harmful Practices Working Group in Nepal, 89% of girls and women in the country experience restrictions during menstruation. In Achham, a Far West region in Nepal, 60% of women cannot sleep in the same house as the rest of the family while on their periods. And chhaupadi — a dangerous socio-cultural practice in which women are asked to stay in small sheds away from home during menstruation — is still practiced, despite being outlawed by the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2005. Such challenges have only been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on these issues, please see UNESCO’s video: How do we break the silence on #MenstrualTaboos in Nepal?
This Menstrual Hygiene Day, the UNESCO-UNFPA-UN Women Joint Programme, with support from KOICA, organised its first Community of Knowledge (CoK) in partnership with the Forum for Women, Law, and Development (FWLD). Entitled “Women and Menstruation,” this CoK focused primarily on two issues: good practices from Achham and Bajura districts on tackling menstruation-related stigma and discrimination, and the need for tax exemption on menstrual products.
Speakers from Achham and Bajura districts including Manju Mahat, Chief Officer of the Women, Children and Senior Citizens Unit of Mangalsen Municipality in the Achham District, and Kunti Budha, Vice Chairperson of Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality in Bajura District, shared their experiences on a campaign they initiated in 2019 which aimed to demolish all menstrual sheds. Mahat also shared that many grassroots activists have been conducting awareness-raising programs with community members to mobilise support against chhaupadi.
Budha shared a powerful story of a female local government official who used her own experience to persuade others to break away from the myths surrounding menstruation and associated discrimination. In a meeting she was attending, local government officials were saying that many people still practice chhaupadi because they think women who menstruate bring bad luck. The woman was on her period at the time, and to challenge this notion she passed out water and asked people to drink with her — something people usually avoid out of fear of bad omens. When nothing happened, she conveyed to all those present that menstruation is a natural and normal process, not something to be feared or discriminated against.
In terms of menstrual products, Pashupati Kunwar, President of Sama Bikash Nepal in the Achham District, shared how her organization has been working with local women to produce reusable menstrual pads. Although reusable pads are more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient in the long term, the government outsources cheaper disposable pads. She stressed that the tax levied on these pads and the overwhelming trend of importing foreign pads are major challenges that their campaign is facing.
Menstruation is a natural biological process without which human civilization would cease to exist. It is the most dignified and human process and should not be seen as a subject of discrimination and exclusion.
Roshani Shrestha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens
Roshani Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC), shared that in the current fiscal year the MoWCSC issued funds to five women's organizations that produced environment-friendly pads. In addition to providing free sanitary pads in schools, the Ministry is also focused on ensuring clean toilets and access to water. More broadly, Shrestha highlighted that through the 2077 National Gender Equality Policy, all levels of government are aiming to tackle harmful gender-based practices, as well as promote women’s economic empowerment.
This session, broadcast live on Facebook, reached around 295,000 people and received 2,100 views and 1,900 likes. Attendees shared positive comments, including the importance of hearing “firsthand from Accham and Bajura about their achievements” and the need to “raise [collective] voices to use locally produced pads.”
The UNESCO-UNFPA-UN Women Joint Programme, together with FWLD, plans to organise more CoK sessions on topics including the status of funds to fight gender-based violence (GBV) and related laws; the status and roles of Judicial Committees (good practices and persisting challenges); gender-friendly infrastructures in the sector of GBV response mechanisms, and major causes of GBV and good practices adopted to address them in JP project areas.
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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
It is good to talk!
In a small courtyard hidden behind walls of corrugated sheets sits 12 tiny bungalows. Decorative pieces of small orange crocheted blankets hang from the doors providing a bright contrast with the pastel-coloured walls and dark wooden doors. Dozens of haystacks are littered across the horizon following the harvesting. Inside this small compound freshly picked garlic cloves are laid out on a ground mat drying in the midday sun. It is a familiar scene in the district of Morang where families such as these rely on seasonal agricultural work for incomes and sustenance.
In this compound three married couples are sitting together in the shade of the bungalows, encircling a trained facilitator, discussing their participation in a UNFPA programme to support families resolve conflicts they might experience in their households. These ‘couple discussions’ aim to promote healthy relationships and develop non-violent conflict resolution skills and positive masculinities in families and communities. These are particularly important in this area where unemployment rates are high and money can be in short supply in each of the families. Finances are a major source of conflict in marriages.
“After attending we are much more able to deal with the conflicts in our families” says Reena Paswan who has attended the sessions for ten weeks. She continues “we have learnt how to live more harmoniously in our homes and communities and as couples we know that we need to promote well-being in our relationship to prevent minor issues blowing up into something that might cause conflict in our marriages.”
For the couples, they have learnt how to communicate better and manage internal conflicts and other challenging situations that often come up in relationships. A skill learnt during these couple dialogues is how to negotiate within a couple and this means that these couples can now confidently convert a negative situation to an affirmative one by presenting one another’s point of view in the argument forward clearly during conflicts.
Sessions, however, do not only focus on conflict and the partners all reflect on how it has led to changing attitudes in their families. “My mother-in-law was initially against the idea we should attend. She changed her mind only when she was invited to attend and this means today, she encourages us to fully participate, in our communities.” It has also built up more confidence in this important family relationship because generally couples live under one roof “I am also encouraged to be more outgoing and there is more trust in me to make important decisions for the family that creates better relations amongst us.”
The family unit is also growing. Previously the men in this group left household chores and childcare solely to wives. This is now changing “we have learnt that both partners in a marriage can share domestic chores" explains Ramesh Paswan who is holding his three-year old daughter playfully rocking in his arms. Adding “we now understand that we need to also include our wives in decision making and also think about consent before initiating any intimacy or sexual activities.”
There is also a strong community focus in the programme that is supported by UNFPA’s partnership with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu and Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation. All the couples sitting in the courtyard knew each other before attending the sessions as they are neighbours and live in small tight knit communities. The sessions have brought them closer as they share the good things as well as the challenges in their relationships. The couples explain that “when we see other people in the community being violent, we talk with them and educate them about the right thing to do, and support women that experience violence so they can respond.”
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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
09 April 2024
Stock Exchanges and Global Partners Rally to Advance Gender Equality
Under the theme Invest in Women- Accelerate Progress, the event chaired by Honorable Bhagbati Chaudhary, Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizen and attended by public, private and development partners highlighted the opportunities to jointly advance gender equality by actively increasing women’s access in Nepal’s financial sector. Speaking at the event, Honorable Minister Chaudhary urged everyone to invest in women to help minimize gender gaps at all levels. She added, “The Ministry has allocated 42% of its budget to empower women through skills development, which will enhance women's economic empowerment. I hope that the bell we rang today will serve as a reminder for all of us to invest every day in women and promote gender equality.”The event that started with ringing the bell witnessed representatives from different sectors deliver their commitment speech to invest in women and to advance gender equality. "Women's economic empowerment is not only a question of equality but absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of the society as a whole and its sustainable economic growth. Finland itself is an example of a country that has successfully invested in gender equality when building a strong democracy and economy. The forthcoming LDC graduation of Nepal highlights the need for an inclusive economic transformation - investments in women will multiply.", said H.E. Riina-Riikka Heikka, Finnish Ambassador to Nepal. Welcoming the participants and setting the context of the event, the Country Representative of UN Women, Ms. Patricia FERNANDEZ-PACHECO highlighted, “Investing in women is not only the right thing to do but also the wisest decision. As investment in women rises, so does productivity, profitability, and efficiency. Aligned with the conclusions of the global gathering, Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), we urge all sectors to join us in this.”Research shows that having inclusive and gender-diverse boards and senior leadership is positively correlated with better financial and non-financial performance contributing to overall company growth and enhanced environmental, social and governance or ESG practices and policies.“Targeted and well-tailored interventions to advance gender diversity and equality in non-traditional sectors, such as hydropower, have proven net positive impacts on the employees, businesses, and the sector worldwide,” said Martin Holtmann, IFC Country Manager for Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. “It would hasten the country’s progress on advancing gender parity, estimated to translate into a $3 billion or a 9.2 percent increase in its GDP by 2025.”As the largest driver of formal employment, the private sector has a key role in addressing employment and gender gaps in Nepal. An analytical report on ‘Women in Business’ by the Central Bureau of the Statistics in 2021, revealed there are 29.6 percent female managers compared to that of 70.3 percent of male managers.“Even though the numbers are much less compared to men, we are beginning to see a change, we are beginning to see more women owning and running businesses,” said Dr. Navaraj Adhikari, Acting Chairperson, of the Securities Board of Nepal. “Nepali women are undoubtedly a central force propelling the country’s economy, and today’s bellringing symbolizes our commitment to empowering women through strategic investments,” he added.This year’s International Women’s Day theme of Investing in Women, Accelerating Progress is a clear call to action. Stock exchanges can help improve transparency and disclosure of gender-related data, promote access to finance, and encourage women to invest in public markets.Shedding light on the way forwards, Krishna Shah, Executive Director at Global Compact Nepal said, "The adoption of Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPS) within Nepal's private sector is important and Global Compact Nepal is actively driving on this in partnership with UN Women. However, our efforts need amplification, because at our current rate it will take over 169 years to achieve gender equality in terms of women’s economic empowerment and participation."The event also staged a fireside chat between Bhawani Rana, Former President of FNCCI, and Grace Rauniyar, a pioneer entrepreneur who shared inspirational stories of aspiring women and the importance of investing in leadership role of women to accelerate progress for gender equality.The Ring the Bell for Gender Equality Initiative – a global partnership that includes UN Women, IFC, United Nations Global Compact, and The World Federation of Exchanges – advocates for the full and equal participation of all people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information:For queries, please contact:Seetashma Thapa; Tel: 9851133873 Email: sthapa5@ifc.org Simrika Sharma; Tel: 9841592692 Email: simrika.sharma@un.orgSangharsha Panta; Tel: 9849624191 Email: sangharsha.panta@unwomen.orgNotes to the editor:About Ring the BellRing the Bell is a collaboration of stock exchanges around the world ringing opening or closing bells to celebrate International Women’s Day and promote the principles of WEP. In Nepal, the initiative was a partnership between Global Compact Nepal (GCN), UN Women, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE), and the UN Resident Coordinator Office to raise awareness about the opportunities for the private sector to advance gender equality and sustainable development. Together they advocate the full and equal participation of all people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and create a world free of poverty on a livable planet.About GCNGlobal Compact Nepal (GCN) is a local branch of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), an initiative established by the United Nations to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible practices. GCN serves as a platform for Nepalese businesses to voluntarily commit to these principles and report on their progress towards implementation.About IFCIFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit;www.ifc.org.About UN WomenUN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide.
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Press Release
19 January 2024
Press Statement : First Annual Joint Steering Committee Meeting of Nepal and the UN Concludes
The meeting was co-chaired by the Honorable Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Min Bahadur Shrestha, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Ms. Hanaa Singer Hamdy.
Following the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2023-2027) in 2023, at the meeting of the Government of Nepal - the UN Joint Steering Committee discussed work plans and priorities for 2024 under its four outcome areas: Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Economic Transformation; Inclusive and Transformative Human Development; Environment Sustainability, Climate and Disaster Resilience; and Governance, Federalism, Participation, and Inclusion.
Speaking at the meeting the Vice Chairman stated that Nepal looks forward to graduating from the LDC status in 2026 and implementing the 16th Development Plan. In this context, he highlighted, Nepal seeks scalable, transformative, and impactful support of the UN to create more employment opportunities, boost productivity, and productive capacity, promote sustainable use of natural resources, fortify the data management system for evidence-based policymaking, and enhance access to quality education and health facilities.
The Joint Steering Committee provides strategic oversight of the development and implementation of the Cooperation Framework, to ensure strong co-ownership and alignment with national priorities as outlined in the upcoming 16th National Plan and guided by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Hanaa Singer Hamdy, stated that the Cooperation Framework is the centerpiece for the implementation of the UN Development System reform at the country level. It articulates how the UN is supporting the people and Government of Nepal in achieving its development goals.
The meeting was attended by government representatives and UN Country Team members, the outcome of the meeting is the agreement on the priorities for the coming year for the four outcomes under the UNSDCF 2023-2027.
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Media Contact:
Yamlal Bhusal: Joint Secretary/Spokesperson; National Planning Commission
Email ylbhusal@npc.gov.np
Simrika Sharma: National Information Officer; UN Information Centre
Email simrika.sharma@un.org
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Press Release
19 December 2023
United Nations urges investments and actions to end Gender Based Violence in Nepal
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive violation of human rights that reverberates across the world affecting one in three women globally and more than one in four women in Nepal. Gender-based violence can be prevented – but urgent investments are needed to fulfill the promise of a life free from violence for women and girls, including those affected by humanitarian crises.
Convening a collaborative event in this regard, the United Nations urged the government, development partners, civil society organizations, private sectors, media, and women's rights organizations to increase investments in preventing violence from happening in the first place.
Speaking at the event, the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said, “Each one of us each has a responsibility to extinguish the flames of violence that threaten the lives and wellbeing of women and girls. As we mark the 16 Days of Activism, I want to highlight the urgent need for investing both monetary and collective will to end gender-based violence in Nepal.”
With the overarching theme, "Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls," the event organized in Lalitpur encouraged investment and innovative strategies in this sector.
The Finland Ambassador to Nepal, Her Excellency Riina-Riikka Heikka, said, "Violence prevention supports basic human rights, accelerates economic development and improves revenues and also helps to respond and build back better from the crisis". She also urged all sectors to come together and invest in preventing GBV by all means.
The first phase of the event commenced with a Gallery Walk, immersing around 100 participants in the powerful stories of resilience and courage shared by survivors of gender-based violence, and innovative initiatives dedicated to ending violence against women and girls.
The second phase of the event witnessed a panel discussion entitled “Invest to Prevent Gender-Based Violence during Humanitarian Crisis”.
The discussion, with a special focus on the devastating earthquake in Western Nepal, comprised of esteemed panelists such as Honorable Indira Rana Magar, Deputy Speaker of the House, Federal Parliament, European Union Ambassador to Nepal, Her Excellency Veronique Lorenzo, Samanata Thapa Magar, Business Incubation and Impact Academy Programmes Coordinator, Impact Hub, Sunita Mainali, Executive Director, Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) and Sanjog Thakuri, President of Hami Daju Vai.
Participating in the panel discussion, Hon’ble Indira Rana Magar, emphasized for substantial investment towards the advancement of women’s leadership, and economic empowerment. She further added, “Prioritizing investment in female journalists is crucial, particularly in the context of risk prevention and natural calamities.”
The panel, moderated by Patricia Fernandez Pacheco, Country Representative of UN Women, emphasized, and committed to address and invest in GBV prevention and response during humanitarian crises.
Economic crises, conflicts, natural disasters, and climate change have exacerbated violence against women and girls in recent times, increasing the vulnerability faced by women and girls. Thus, bold investments are now more crucial than ever to build back better from multiple crises, prioritizing the well-being and safety of women and girls who have been disproportionately affected.
On this account, the event accentuated the critical need for investment to prevent gender-based violence and ensure the rights and safety of all individuals, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or social background.
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For further Information Contact:
Simrika Sharma; simrika.sharma@un.org; 9841592692
Sangharsha Panta; sangharsha.panta@unwomen.org; 9849624191
Kenosha Kumaresan; kumaresan@unfpa.org; 9801056033
About the 16 Days of Activism: The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that starts from November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10th, International Human Rights Day. It serves as a crucial period to raise awareness, galvanize action, and advocate for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls worldwide.
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Press Release
11 December 2023
Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal Programme Joins Global 16 Days of Activism Campaign to Prevent Gender-Based Violence
Janakpur, 8 Dec 2023 – The Government of Nepal, the Delegation of the European Union in Nepal and the United Nations, through their Joint Programme ‘Empowered Women Prosperous Nepal,’ organized a joint event aligned with the global theme of "Unite: Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls" for this year's 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The event was graced by the presence of the Honorable Chair of Parliamentary of Women Children and Social Justice Ms. Rupa Yadav; the Deputy Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union, Ms Eloisa Astudillo Fernandez; and on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Ms. Patricia Fernandez Pacheco, UN Women Representative. Attendees included representatives from the Provincial and Local Governments, the EU, representatives of United Nations agencies, civil society, policymakers, private sector entities and youth from Madhesh Province. The event fostered interactions among policymakers, locally elected women representatives, private sector entities, gender equality advocates youth, and civil society with an aim to understand ground realities and gather diverse perspectives on addressing gender-based violence.
"Despite strides in gender-based violence prevention and equality efforts, challenges persist," said Rupa Yadav, Chair of Parliamentary of Women Children and Social Justice. " Out of the 753 local levels in the country, only 115 municipalities have established the GBV prevention fund, signaling the necessity to expand its coverage. This gap highlights the disparity between promised legal rights and women's actual access to and benefit from these crucial funds. There's a pressing need to expand the coverage of the GBV prevention fund across local levels."
The joint event in Madhesh Province aligns with the global 16 Days of Activism Campaign, focusing on investing in the prevention of violence against women and girls and ensuring they can live lives free of violence and harassment. Highlighted by a Forum Theatre, the event emphasized positive masculinity and men's role in preventing GBV. In addition, a policy discussion gathered diverse stakeholders to garner commitments for increased investments in preventing GBV. This dialogue aimed to promote women's rights and equality through legislative actions, economic empowerment initiatives, and strengthening institutional frameworks. Furthermore, it aimed to bridge the gap between policies and effective GBV prevention services.
GBV is rooted in multifaceted factors, like economic disparities and entrenched cultural norms," stated Eloisa Astudillo Fernandez, Deputy Head of Cooperation from the European Union. "A proactive approach integrating GBV prevention and responses, as well as promoting equality, is essential and the European Union is committed to support the Government of Nepal in the investment in the prevention of Gender Based Violence."
The event highlighted the importance of public and private investments in preventing GBV, advocating for sustainable contributions to women's rights organizations. It also emphasized the critical role of workplace policies in ensuring women's economic security and safety.
"Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) presents a global concern that transcends borders and necessitates immediate collective efforts. Nepal's commitment to diminish physical/sexual violence by 6.5% among women aged 15-49 by 2030 signifies significant progress, yet effective planning and strategic investment in GBV prevention at every provincial level are imperative. It is imperative to disrupt unequal power dynamics governing women's bodies. To combat VAWG, let us take a united stance, raise awareness, allocate specific budgets, bolster support for women's organizations, and advocate for workplace policies ensuring the safety and economic stability of women," stated Patricia Fernandez Pacheco, UN Women Representative, speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal.
The event culminated with the ministry representatives and agency leaders signing a commemorative plaque, joined by government representatives, private sector delegates, civil society organizations, and youth, affirming their commitment to invest in the prevention of GBV. The event notably highlighted investments in women's organizations, legislative measures, prosecuting perpetrators, and enhancing survivor services as focal points.
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About Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal Joint Programme:
Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal is a collaborative initiative by the Government of Nepal, the European Union, and the United Nations, aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering women, and fostering inclusive growth in Nepal. This joint initiative also seeks to challenge harmful social norms, empower women, and promote political participation despite the prevailing challenges faced by elected women representatives. For further information, please contact:
Ambar Mainali, Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, Ambar.MAINALI@eeas.europa.eu
Simrika Sharma, United Nations Information Centre, Simrika.sharma@un.org Smriti Kamar, United Nations Joint Programme Coordination Unit, skamar@unicef.org
Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal is a collaborative initiative by the Government of Nepal, the European Union, and the United Nations, aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering women, and fostering inclusive growth in Nepal. This joint initiative also seeks to challenge harmful social norms, empower women, and promote political participation despite the prevailing challenges faced by elected women representatives. For further information, please contact:
Ambar Mainali, Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, Ambar.MAINALI@eeas.europa.eu
Simrika Sharma, United Nations Information Centre, Simrika.sharma@un.org Smriti Kamar, United Nations Joint Programme Coordination Unit, skamar@unicef.org
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Press Release
04 December 2023
UNRC’s Message on International Day for Persons with Disabilities
The International Day for Persons with Disabilities reminds us of our commitment to remove the barriers faced by persons with disabilities around the world and here in Nepal as they navigate their everyday lives from physical infrastructure, geographical constraints, and systemic and policy-oriented challenges.
We are at the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda. In Nepal, the recent analysis of SDG 4 shows regression compared to previous years, as one-third of the schools do not have access to adapted infrastructures and accessible materials for students with disabilities.
As highlighted by the Secretary-General, sustainable development for persons with disabilities requires a laser-like focus on their needs and rights — not only as beneficiaries, but as active contributors across social, economic, and political life.
This year’s national slogan seeks our commitment to achieve SDGs through ownership, leadership, and solidarity with persons with disabilities. Echoing the slogan, I reiterate the importance of engaging with persons with disabilities in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the achievement of the SDGs and to live up to the promises to leave no one behind.
We as the UN have adopted the Disability Inclusion Strategy, to bring about lasting and transformative change in the UN’s disability inclusion work and support member states to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through its programming in action and operation.
I call on everyone to work side-by-side with persons with disabilities to design and deliver solutions based on equal rights in every province and community.
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