- – Advocate Sital Sijapati, FWLD
It’s been 25 years since the adaptation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA) in 1995, which reflects a new international commitment to the goals of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere. In March 2020, the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is going to undertake a review of progress made by the states in the implementation of the BPFA in 64th Session. The Beijing Review provides an important opportunity for women to examine their respective governments’ efforts and those of the other non- state actors in implementing the BPFA. It is also an opportunity for holding leaders and governments accountable for their commitments made for women’s empowerment, gender equality and the promotion of women’s human rights under the BPFA.
The National Network for Beijing Review Nepal (NNBN) which constitutes of over 70 leading NGOs working to protect and promote Women’s Human Rights in Nepal has submitted the NGOs (parallel) report of Nepal on the Beijing +25 review and Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) has been coordinating all the process as a Secretariat of the Network. The report consists the present status, progress achieved, persistent and emerging challenges along with conclusion and recommendation in 12 Beijing critical areas of concern.
Beijing Platform for Action Flagged 12 key areas where urgent action was needed to ensure greater equality and opportunities for women and men, girls and boys. Analogous to this we have one key area from those 12 areas that is “the girl child”. The lead author of this report crop up to be Suvekchya Rana representing from the organization SAATHI.
In this report it has been described about the traditional practices, gender biased social and cultural mores and gender based violence and discrimination on the lives of girls in Nepal. Child marriage, dowry system, sexual violence, chaupadi are the different forms of illegal act terminated to a minor girl. These issues are there due to the poverty, lack of awareness and illiteracy because of which Nepali girls fall prey to labor, sexual exploitation in India and the Gulf Countries.
To secure the health and right of adolescent girls through comprehensive sexuality education, access to sexual and reproductive health counselling, information and services; and through encouraging girls empowerment and participation in decisions affecting them. Analogous to, Government of Nepal (GON) “President Women Upliftment Programme” aims to reduce Gender Based Violence and discrimination and decrees maternal and child mortality rate. Similarly, Nepal has also adopted National Strategy on Ending the Child Marriage-2016 which aimed to end child marriage by 2030.
This report also states other different aspect by government done to control all the issues such as ‘safe motherhood and reproductive health rights act’ , toll free child helpline, free access to sanitary pads, save daughter campaign (educate daughter), federal and provincial level girl child summits and so forth. For young girls, violence experiences during adolescence can determine the trajectory of a girl’s life. As seen from the research in Nepal 41% of girls are married before the age of 18 which calls for backing in girls, ensuring the access to education and health services, developing their social and economic assets to make them able to postpone their marriage up to the time they are ready.
The report also highlights some observable progress achieved by Nepal which includes promulgation of the new Constitution in 2015 that has been the milestone for enabling provisions towards child rights and has endorsed related international treaties and conventions. On top of that, Nepal has also implemented numerous programs and adopted policies for child friendly environment, access to comprehensive sexuality education , strict measures to be taken against corporal punishment, sexual violence , harassment, abuse or gender based violence, strict monitoring and punishment to be established, launch campaigns for awareness, promoting youths in each province ,ensuring basic fundamental rights for the girls who have no parents, guardians or citizenships and several others. As Nepal embarks on new federal forms of governance, it is expected to bring positive change in the lives of women and girls with new policies and program and prompt and efficient service delivery.