Kathmandu, February 28:

A national conference on Equal Citizenship Rights today adopted a memorandum that demands equal citizenship rights for women. The meet was organised by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) here today.

The new memorandum is to be submitted to the government soon.

Distinguished members of society, political leaders and women activists expressed their support for the memorandum. They also spoke on the theme ‘Maternity is proved, paternity is presumed.’

Laxman Prasad Aryal, a former justice of the SC, said: “We should gain a broader perspective on this matter and should not think the memorandum is directed against men.”

“Discriminatory laws that have left many children and women stateless should be integrated in the agenda of the main political parties,” said Sapana Pradhan Malla, president of FWLD.

UML leader Raghuji Pant said women activists should unify to fight against discrimination. Asta Laxmi Shakya of UML blamed patriarchal society for discrimination against women and stressed the need to implement the commitments made. Women victims questioned the government, law makers and society for the reason behind making them stateless by denying citizenship certificates and depriving them of the basic State facilities.

Ratna K Shrestha, an advocate, said the FWLD has already organised various conferences and rallies in 10 districts as a part of the programme.