Women’s Rights
IT HAS been accepted by all that the status of women in Nepal must be
enhanced. Women in Nepal constitute half of country’s total population but the
condition of the majority of women is not satisfactory. Despite equal rights and
opportunities guaranteed by the Constitution, women, in real life, have not been able to
enjoy the same. The condition in the rural areas is even worse. Women are discriminated
and have lagged far behind in many areas, barring few exceptions, mainly because of our
long-held social and cultural structure and attitude. However, there have been changes in
the attitude of the society regarding women in recent times. It has been realised that
without equal development of women, the long-term and sustainable development of the
country is not possible. Considering this, the government has expressed its clear-cut
commitment at both national as well as international forums and brought about legal
provisions, policies and programmes for the rights, interest and development of women. The
constitution has made it mandatory for all political parties to allocate at least three
per cent seats while selecting candidates for the general elections. It is, of course, a
very positive and important beginning towards ensuring women’s representation and
participation in the decision making level. Some other positive initiatives have been
taken at the governmental as well as non-governmental level for the rights and welfare of
women. A separate Ministry was created to deal with the issues of women and work for
women’s development as part of translating Nepal’s commitment made at the
international level into action. Currently, Nepal is busy in preparing report to be
presented in the United Nations relating to the achievements made on issues like gender
equality and women development, which nations including Nepal had expressed in the fourth
United Nation World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China in 1995. As Beijing+5
meeting is being held in New York to discuss progress made on issues relating to gender
equality and women development especially after the Beijing Conference on Women, Nepal is
to present its report about the achievement Nepal made for the protection and promotion of
rights of the women. For this, the government is currently soliciting suggestions from
people from different walks of life. Although some important theoretical decisions have
been taken for ensuring equal rights and opportunities to women, they should not remain in
paper alone but need to be put into action.
Other Story
|
