First find where women are backward, says CJ

Pokhara, Nov. 24 (RSS): Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that when it comes to gender equality, we must try to identify in which areas such as education, health, poverty, etc women are backward and then resolve the problems accordingly.

Mr Upadhyaya made this remark while inaugurating the ninth national seminar for women legal practitioners jointly organized here today by the Nepal Bar Association legal aid project Kathmandu and the Appellate Court Bar Association Pokhara.

The theme of the seminar is "justice and women's expectations".

Stating that judges should take occasional criticism directed at them as an opportunity for reform, the Chief Justice observed that the activities of women themselves sometimes stand in the way of building an egalitarian society.

Noting that the present constitution has made provisions for ensuring women's interests, their empowerment and the ending of discrimination in any form, he made it clear that the courts always function in keeping with the treaties and conventions which Nepal has signed.

Speaking of the need to make the existing laws pertaining to women trafficking more relevent to the times, Mr. Upadhyaya said that if senior legal practitioners involve in their work women who have just joined the bar, it will have a positive impact on such beginners. So the bar association should take initiative in this connection.

Central president of Nepal Bar Association Harihar Dahal said though a national conference of legal practitioners is held every three years, it was only from 2049 bs that a national seminar of this kind with the focus on women legal practitioners has been held.

Former speaker and senior advocate Damannath Dhungana observed that judicial, semi-judicial and other legal bodies should ensure justice, or else democracy will become weak.

Senior advocate Sarbagya Ratna Tuladhar expressed the view that the constitution is good and we all should mould ourselves accordingly.

Another senior advocate, Sindhunath Pyakurel, noted that gender equality is not possible unless there is economic, social and cultural equality in society.

Various other speakers including chief judge of the appellate court Mrs Sharada Shrestha, bar association central president Damannath Sharma and secretary Agni Kharel also spoke at the function chaired by president of the Appellate Court Bar Association Pokhara Mukunda Sharma Paudel.

More than 75 women legal practitioners are taking part in the two-day national seminar.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Upadhyaya took part in an interaction among legal practitioners here today.

Responding to questions raised by legal practitioners on the occasion, Mr Upadhyaya said that justice should be dispensed with utmost impartiality and honesty.

It will not be proper to let differences, if any, between bar and bench, spill out onto the streets, he added.

President of the Appellate Court Bar Association Mukunda Sharma Paudel dwelt on the problems facing legal practitioners.

Govt working for Kamaiyas, says Chataut

Mahendranagar, Nov. 24 (RSS): Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarinidutta Chataut has said that history will evaluate the present government's decision to liberate the Kamaiyas or bonded labourers.

Mr Chataut, addressing a programme on "Rehabilitation of Kamaiyas" jointly organized here today by the Nepal Social Welfare Association and the Kamaiya liberation movement action committee, noted that committees have been formed in the five districts of Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke, Bardiya and Dang under the chairmenship of the DDC chairmen with the representation of the CDOs concerned and chairmen of the landless settler's problem resolution commissions to identify the genuine Kamaiyas.

Speaking of the need for the Kamaiyas to become wary of those who seek to divide them in the name of promoting their own welfare, the Minister said the government is committed to providing them shelter and efforts are being made to garner support from donor agencies.

Mr Chataut stressed that the policy of the land revenue office not to provide Kamaiya identity cards to those without citizenship papers is wrong, adding that they should get the documents at all costs and he would raise this issue once he reached Kathmandu.

MP Gangadutta Joshi made it clear that he fully agreed with the demands of the Kamaiyas and had been constantly raising the issue at the National Assembly.

Ashok Bikram Jaisle of the Nepal Social Welfare Association warned that if the problems of the Kamaiyas are not attended to within four days, Kamaiyas from Kanchanpur to Dang would lie down across the roads under their first phase action programme.

Earlier in the day, some 1,500 Kamaiyas had picketed the land revenue office protesting against its decision not to provide identity cards to those of them who do not have citizenship papers.

Adopt clear policy on Bhutanese refugees issue, says Adhikari

Damak, Nov. 24 (RSS): Former minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, MP, has said the government has failed to make initiatives for the creation of a conducive environment for the unhindered and unconditional repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees to their home country.

Mr. Adhikari was speaking at an interaction programme on "the impact from the Bhutanese refugees on the construction business and its solution" organised by Nepal electricians, painters, plumbers and construction workers union central committee here on thursday.

MP Adhikari pointed out the need for the government to adopt a clear policy regarding the internationalisation of the Bhutanese refugee issue.

Member of the CPN-UML standing committee and president of the general federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) Mukunda Neupane expressed concern over the problem created by the entry of the Bhutanese refugees in the labour market which according to him was displacing the Nepali labourers from jobs.

He said the problem was not only confined to the labour sector but it has beome a national problem.

MP Devraj Ghimire also echoed Mr. Neupane's views and said the Nepalese labourers were being displaced from the construction industry.

President of Nepal electricians, painters, plumbers and construction workers' union Jitendra Shrestha presented a working paper on the impact of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal's construction industry and its solution.

Electricians, painters, plumbers and construction workers from Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts attended the interaction.

Focus fight against violence, says Annan

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 24: Un Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in a message on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed, "Today we mark the first United Nations observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It gives us an occasion to focus our fight against gender-based violence in all its forms--whether it be domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment, torture and abuse of women prisoners, or violence against women in armed conflict." It calls upon us to raise public awareness of this global scourge in all its forms, and coensure that wherever it occurs, it will be met with global condemnation, the UN chief said.

Since the birth of the United Nations, there has been increasing recognition that the enjoyment of human rights is essential to the well-being and development of the individual, the community, the nation and the world. There has been increasing awareness of violations of the rights of women and girls. And yet violence against women--one of the most shameful of all human rights violations--continues to be widespread, he said. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. It occurs in times of armed conflict and in peace, in the home, in the workplace and in the streets. It stands in the way of our progress towards equality, development, peace and all human rights for all, the secretary-General pointed out.

"In our efforts to confront violence against women, we have made some headway at the international and national levels. Member States of the United Nations have adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which outlines strategies for its elimination. The Statutes of the Ad Hoc International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, and the 1998 Statute of the International Criminal Court, include gender-based crimes against women in times of conflict. There has been worldwide mobilisation against harmful traditional practices such as so-called "honour killings"--which iprefer to call "shame killings."

Member States have enacted legislation banning violence against women--legislation covering the home, workplace and society at large. They have intorduced protection services and trained professionals to take effective action. They have launched campaigns to make all sectors of society understand that violence against women is unacceptable in any form, Kofi Annan observed.

"But we must do much more. When Member States came together in June this year to review progress in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, they pledged themselves to a special focus on violence against women in meeting the goals of gender equality, development and peace. They resolved to revise laws, prosecute perpetrators and continue to research the root causes of violence against women as a means to creating effective programmes against it they agreed to consider an international campaign to send the message of "zero tolerance" far and wide."

"Today, let us recall that action to eliminate violence against women is the responsibility of all of us: the United Nations family, member States, civil society and individual women and men," the UN Chief said. This day, and the Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Violence that we launch today, give us an opportunity to start building a new Millennium free from violence against women and girls; an age in which all humanity knows that when it comes to violence against women, there are no grounds for tolerance and no tolerable excuses, he stated.

'Sister cities benefit by sharing ideas'

BY STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 24:An American City is a making comeback to cement its old ties with the Kathmandu Valley.

Eugene, a city in Oregon State of the United States of America, and Kathmandu today came closer to further strengthen their 25 year old relationship.

A 17-member delegation from Eugene, which is on a goodwill visit to Nepal, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of this pragmatic relation between the two cities in the capital.

Eugene and Kathmandu, which share common topogaphical similarities, have been in this relation since 1975.

"It is more than two and half decade since we have been having ties but still we have a long way to go along the path of mutual help and friendship," said Keshab Sthapit, the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He was speaking at the reception organised by KMC and Kathmandu-Eugene Sister City Committee in honour of the delegation.

He said that the relationship between the two could be extended by exchanging the ideas of urban management and development. "Besides all this, we are also thinking of extending our relationship through certain business deal," he added.

Eugene has been involved in various social and cultural activities in Nepal since the establishment of this relation. But, it actually took its pace since the visit of the Eugene delegation in Nepal in 1992. That was their first visit since Anderson, the Mayor of Eugene, visited the Himalayan Kingdom in the 70s.

It was with the assistance of Eugene that the trend of "Safa Tempo" started in Kathmandu. "It all started with eight tempos and now there are innumerable, that is strong step towards environmental protection," said Coral Mack, Former President of the Eugene-Kathmandu Sister City Committee.

"Besides this, Eugene has been helping the country in many fields like a solar panel project in Lumbini, water treatment projects at many places, scholarship programmes for girls at Pokhari village, Sankhuwasabha and the list goes on", said former president Mack "And we are also conducting the student exchange programmes for the past few years."

"We feel closer to Eugene since we have many Nepalese out there, studying and working in different sectors," said Jagadish Bhakta Mathema, one who initiated to form Eugene-Kathmandu Sister City Committee in Eugene. On the occasion, KESCC president Sunil Shakya extended vote of thanks.

The delegation which comprises of prominent personalities from Eugene all shared the common view that this delegation will add a golden chapter in the relationship.

The sister committee of Kathmandu and Eugene is organising an exhibition of women artists from the American City at Siddartha Art Gallery tomorrow (Saturday).

'Nepal-UK ties warm, cordial'

Kathmandu, Nov. 24 (RSS): His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah has said that Nepal and the United Kingdom have enjoyed warm and cordial relations marked by mutual understanding and respect for each other's aspirations.

HRH the prince made this remark while speaking at an official dinner hosted by himself and Her Royal Highness Princess Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, here this evening.

The exchange of visits between members of the two Royal houses, as well as at the government and people's levels, have contributed toward further consolidation of bilateral ties, HRH the prince said adding that the state visits by the late King Mahendra to the United Kingdom in 1960 and by Her Britannic Majesty to Nepal in 1961 and 1986 have added new chapters in age-old relations. The state visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen to the United Kingdom in 1980 has also further strengthened this process.

HRH the prince said, "Your Royal Highness, you are no longer a stranger to the people of Nepal. We have fond memories of your first visit to our country in 1981. The present visit of Your Royal Highness is yet another significant event towards consolidating the growing friendship between the Kingdom of Nepal and the UK. "

His Royal Highness the Prince noted that relations between the two countries have become both diverse and deeper, expanding into various sectors, adding, the focus of British cooperation in Nepal, with its emphasis on poverty alleviation by promoting and providing access to rural areas and human resource development is consistent with the priorities of His Majesty's Government.

Stating that the activities of the Save The Children Fund-UK stand out as a fine example of what is achievable through sincere dedication, HRH the prince expressed confidence that the areas of cooperation will grow further in the days ahead.

In her reply speech, HRH Princess Anne expressed confidence that bilateral trade promotion will help further consolidate the traditional friendly relations between the two countries.

Stating that both countries have made significant contributions to world peace, HRH the princess appreciated Nepal's contribution to peace-keeping operations in various parts of the world at the call of the United Nations.

Her Royal Highness Princess Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was present.

National Assembly Chairman Dr Mohammod Mohasin, Chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, Minister of State for Health Tirtha Ram Dangol, CPN UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, ambassador of the United Kingdom to Nepal Ronald P. Nash, heads of foreign diplomatic missions and high-ranking officials of His Majesty's Government were also present.