The Permanent Mission of Nepal in New York will organize the following side event on the sideline of the 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64) and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25):

Venue: Conference Room A, United Nations Headquarters
Date: 12 March 2020
Time: 10:00–11:15 am

Background:

The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) has served as a blueprint for the governments, civil society and public to pave a way for just and equal society. As we celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of this progressive document, comprehensive commitments made under Platform of Action’s twelve critical areas of concern remain our point of reference and guidance as ever.

Heeding to this document’s call for action, Nepal has diligently formulated several legal provisions and policies; amended gender discriminatory laws; and made programmatic interventions to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Nepal has made a significant progress in these twenty-five years.

The Constitution of Nepal ensures 33 per cent of seats to women in the federal and provincial parliaments; guarantees the rights of women and girls including equal rights to property, reproductive health rights, which are guaranteed through appropriate legal provisions, policies and programmes; and various reforms are deemed necessary.

As a result, 41 per cent of the total representatives elected in federal, provincial and local level elections held in 2017 were women. Nepali women’s enrollment in Civil Service has gone up to 23.72 per cent in 2019 from 11.09 per cent in 2007. Another remarkable progress is the lowering of maternal mortality from 850 per 100,000 to 239 per 100,000 births in three decades.

Objective: 

The main objective of the side event is to showcase Nepal’s progressive journey in the area of women empowerment and gender equality since the adoption of the BPfA. Nepal wishes to share its progress and achievements as well as gaps and challenges with the international community. The event is also an occasion to highlight Nepal’s plans and policies to accelerating the implementation of BPfA.

Programme:

• Welcome remarks by H.E. Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations in New York
   
• Opening statement by Hon. Mr. Parbat Gurung, Minister for Women Children and Senior Citizens, Government of Nepal
   
• Nepal’s Journey of Women Empowerment and Gender Equality after BPfA
  Mr. Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Secretary of Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizens, Government of Nepal
   
• Role of BPfA in advancing women’s rights in Least Developed Countries especially in Nepal
  Ms. Anita Bhatia, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director at UN Women, New York (TBC)
   
• How political and legislative reforms brought social and economic transformation in Nepal
  Hon. Binda Pandey, Member of Parliament, Nepal
   
• Role of the developing partners in addressing persistent gaps and barriers
  H.E. Mr. Jukka Salovaara, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations (TBC)
   
• CEDAW: Accelerating the implementation of BPfA
  Ms. Bandana Rana, Vice Chair of the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); Nepal’s candidate for CEDAW Committee for second term (2021-2024)
   
• Rural women and BPfA
  Ms. Chandni Joshi, gender, rights and policy specialist
   
• Questions/comments from the floor/Response from the panelists
   
• Summing up and closing

The programme will be moderated by Mr. Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Secretary of Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizens.