Kathmandu, November 18

Women rights activists today demanded “meaningful” participation of women in various commissions and government bodies.

Issuing a press statement, women rights activists appreciated Prime Minister KP Oli’s pledge to give top priority to reconstruction efforts but expressed disappointment for ignoring women’s participation in the task.

“Women and children were the hardest hit by the recent earthquakes but the prime minister is ignoring women’s participation in the reconstruction efforts,” reads the statement issued by Chandani Joshi, coordinator of a group of women rights activists and organisations.

“We think gender mainstreaming and women’s proportional representation in Reconstruction Authority is a must. Thus, we urge the government to ensure leadership role for women in the reconstruction campaign,” Joshi said in the statement.

The statement further stressed the need for women’s representation in various commissions and government bodies. It, however, said that such appointments should not be political and women with expertise in respective fields should be given priority.

The women rights activists also congratulated President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Speaker Onsari Ghartimagar and wished them a successful tenure. The group included Bandana Rana from Saathi, Durga Sob from FEDO Nepal, Sharmila Karki from Jagaran Nepal, Lily Thapa from WHR, Sabin Shrestha from FWLD, Nirmala Sharma from Sancharika Samuha, Chandani Joshi from Home Net South Asia and Babita Basnet from Media Advocacy Group.