NEPAL: 'Women's Participation a Must for a Comprehensive Peace Process' National Action Plan to Address Gender Issues

Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong today said the ministry is formulating a new national action plan with the objective of ensuring women's proportional participation in all peace building processes during and after conflict.

Chemjong said the government is working to address the issues of conflict and women on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security.

He said the action plan envisages engaging women in the peace building process by mobilising available resources, enhancing women's representation at the decision making level, protecting the rights of women and addressing special needs of women and providing transitional justice through relief and reparation.

Addressing a programme organised by MenEngage Alliance for Gender Equality on the occasion of the ‘16-day activism' against gender based violence, he said women and children are most vulnerable during conflict period.

He further added that the plan is one of the most important instruments to address the issues of women in conflict, in peace processes and in conflict resolution.

“The plan will help mainstream gender issues in the decision making process and also address sexual and domestic violence against women, “said the minister adding that there could not be durable peace without meaningful participation, protection and empowerment of women.

Ram Prasad Bhattarai, under secretary at Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare said the ministry is carrying anti-gender based violence programmes in coordination with men. He informed that the ministry has already given gender initiative training to 14,000 people in 105 VDCs nationwide.

Sangeeta Thapa, UNIFEM programme coordinator said the political situation and frequent change of officials in the government is delaying the implementation of various international conventions that Nepal has signed to empower women. She added that the government should be more responsive towards eliminating discrimination against women and girls.

Despite the progress, six out of ten world's poorest people are still women and girls, said Thapa, adding that less than 16 per cent of world's parliamentarians are women. She further added that women are still subjected to violence, both in times of armed conflict and behind closed doors at home.