Kathmandu: Women members of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the National Assembly (NA) have voiced their concerns over the inadequate embrace and serious action by the Nepali parliament regarding the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) and its 12 areas of critical concern. The BPfA, a global agenda endorsed by the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
According to National News Agency Nepal, during an event organized by the Radha Paudel Foundation as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the participants emphasized that while the Constitution guarantees women’s rights, these rights are not yet fully enforced. They highlighted that parliament must play a crucial role in assessing the implementation of the BPfA and taking necessary measures to ensure progress.
The 12 areas identified by the BPfA include women and poverty, education and training of women, women’s health, violence against women, an
d other critical concerns. The program, supported by the UN Parliament Support Project (PSP), saw CPN (UML) Chief Whip in the NA, Bhagawati Neupane, advocating for in-depth discussions on the Beijing Declaration to combat gender-based violence and improve human rights. She pledged to initiate drafting laws necessary for the BPfA’s implementation.
HoR member Harkamaya Bishwakarma noted that legislation has failed to monitor BPfA implementation, while NA member Garima Shah acknowledged progress on women’s issues but stressed the need for more action. Shah called for political parties to engage in comprehensive discussions to address gender-based violence, discrimination, and unequal resource access, linking the BPfA to menstruation-related discrimination discussions.
Goma Timilsena and Ganga Dahal Belbase urged lawmakers to unite in reviewing the Beijing Declaration’s implementation and Nepal’s international commitments. Shanti Shrestha and other parliamentarians encouraged civil society organizations to info
rm parliamentary committees on these issues, committing to raising these concerns in the upcoming winter session of parliament.
Former Chair of the Beyond Beijing Committee, Shantalaxmi Shrestha, pointed out the lack of concrete results despite government efforts to implement the Beijing Declaration through various policies and laws. She highlighted the need for a comprehensive law to eliminate discrimination against women and a dedicated act to implement the Beijing Declaration.
Dr. Radha Paudel, a dignified menstruation activist and writer, stressed the importance of addressing menstrual discrimination as a form of violence. She emphasized the need to connect the 12 dimensions of the BPfA with the root causes of menstrual discrimination to achieve goals. Dr. Paudel presented research on the BPfA’s dimensions, gender-based violence, and lawmakers’ roles in addressing these issues.