Kathmandu: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishore Sah Sudi, has reiterated the government’s commitment to implement recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee for Nepal. During a discussion organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) on the Committee recommendations for Nepal, the Minister stated that the government’s policies and programs for the current fiscal year are aligned with the CEDAW conclusions for Nepal as they aim to further the empowerment of women.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the budget has been allocated for the enforcement of CEDAW recommended actions, and the recently registered bills relating to citizenship, children, anti-human trafficking, and the operation of social networking also emphasize the elimination of discrimination and violence against women. The Minister highlighted that the Ministry has played a coordinating role in preparing a four-year roadmap for the effective and systematic implementation of the CEDAW Committee recommendations, which will be enforced once the roadmap is in effect.
The Minister noted that the conclusions, comments, and recommendations for the implementation of CEDAW are currently being translated into Nepali languages. He also expressed the government’s commitment to promoting equal opportunities, rights, and legal protections for women. ‘Nepal has achieved significant progress regarding the journey towards gender equality, and the ministry is implementing measures for further accomplishments,’ he stated.
Nepal has recently submitted its seventh periodic report to the CEDAW Committee, highlighting progress made so far in the areas of women’s rights, women empowerment, and minimization of violence. As the Minister acknowledged, despite legal and policy reforms, the effective implementation of policies and legal instruments towards the advancement of women’s rights remains a major public concern for Nepal.