nepalnews.com

New York (USA), Sept 28: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development, Prakashman Singh, has said that the inclusive and democratic constitution promulgated last week from the Constituent Assembly, has guaranteed the rights of women. 

DPM Singh said so while addressing the “Global Leader’s Meeting on Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment: A commitment to Action” organised by the Republic of China and UN Women on the sideline of the 70th United Nations General Assembly. 

On the occasion, he clarified that women enjoy all the fundamental rights and freedom as enshrined in the new constitution, Article 43 especially deals with the rights of women that include rights to lineage, right to safe maternity and reproduction, right against all forms of exploitation, and equal rights in the family matters and property. 

Stating that 33 per cent representation of women has also been ensured in the Parliament, DPM Singh said the new constitution has also the provision according to which the persons of same gender or community could occupy both the elected offices of the president and vice-president as well as either of speaker of deputy speaker should be elected from among women. 

Similarly, he said, “I express my firm confidence that the effective implementation of these commitments and provisions will significantly contribute towards furthering the cause of gender equality and empowerment of women in Nepal.” 

DPM Singh also expressed the commitment to working closely with the international community in realizing this vital goal with enhanced level of partnership in the context of implementing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

He said that in recent years, Nepal has been working a lot for the gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

He contended that the government had ensured women’s active participation in all spheres of national life- political, economic, social, and cultural sector through various Acts, laws, policies and administrative measures. 

“We have enacted proportionate, inclusive and affirmative polices and laws for the same,” added DPM Singh, highlighting the achievements made in this field. 

Stating that the government has made a mandatory participation of women and civil agencies, he shared about the implementation of various action plans empowering women, including Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration in Nepal. 

Furthermore, DPM Singh said that a National Action Plan had been enforced in Nepal for the effective implementation of the UN’s Security Council’s Resolutions 1325 and 1820. 

“Nepal has enacted and sternly enforced various laws and a rule with the government’s zero tolerance policy to sexual and domestic violence, workplace-related sexual harassment, child marriage, allegation of practicing witchcraft and gender inequality, among others.” 

On the occasion, DPM Singh shared “We have given constitutional accreditation to the National Women Commission.” 

Elaborating on the Nepal’s efforts and achievements on the sector of women empowerment, he said “We have also incorporated the mainstreaming of gender as cross-cutting issues in all development policies and programmes, including developing a gender responsive budget system, which now stands at 22 per cent of the total budget.” 

He added that various national laws were enacted for the effective implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), among others international conventions on human rights. RSS

Origional Post here:  http://www.nepalnews.com/index.php/news/46000-new-constitution-ensures-rights-of-women-dpm-singh