Kathmandu, February 13 In light of the launch of the 2030 Agenda, the US-based committee of NGO Community on the Status of Women/New York has decided to honour Bandana Rana with the Women of Distinction Award. A few days ago, NGO Community on Status of Women/NY announced its first winner, Amina Muhammad, who will speak at its annual reception, which will take place on March 15, at New York University, Kimmel Center. NGO Community on Status of Women/NY announced yesterday its second Women of Distinction awardee, Bandana Rana from Nepal. Rana will be its keynote speaker for its Consultation Day on March 13 at the Street Y, New York. This annual award is given to a woman or women in recognition of her leadership in the struggle for gender equality and women empowerment. The honoree is a leading activist from a developing country who can address the theme of the CSW, will benefit from participation in Consultation Day, and make a difference when she returns home. “Rana is one of the key leaders of the women’s movement in Nepal. She has devoted more than 25 years of active voluntary engagement in promoting women’s rights and gender equality through the different organisations and networks she has founded and served. She has worked from the grassroots to the national, regional and global level to address the concerns of women survivors of violence and conflict, marginalised and destitute women and their empowerment,” said Community on the Status of Women/NY. She has led and designed advocacy, research, and public outreach and community mobilisation programs for women’s rights over several years. Rana is the founder convenor of the National Network for Beijing Review and founder coordinator of the National Network Against Domestic Violence. She is also one of the founders and the executive chair (2009 to 2015) of Saathi, a non-governmental Organisation founded in 1992 that works on preventing violence against women and girls. Saathi under Rana’s leadership is particularly well recognised for its successful catalytic role in bringing about the voices of the grassroots community to the policy level as well as harmonising partnership and collaboration between the government and civil society organisations. She is also the former chair of the National Women’s Commission.