KATHMANDU: Marking the 108th International Women's Day, a march was held with much ardour in Kathmandu today. The campaign was an initiative of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare that saw the participation of various individuals, organisations, social campaigners, and mediapersons.

The march that began from the exhibition hall gate at Bhrikutimandap ended in Shantivatika at Ratnapark, going around Tundikhel via Bhadrakali Temple, Shahid Gate, Nepal Airlines Corporation office, Mahankal Temple, and Bir Hospital.

On the occasion, people gathered from different walks of life to express their solidarity towards women, social issues regarding women, and to raise their voices to stop violence against women.

The march was filled with enthusiastic participants — holding placards and shouting slogans — addressing various issues faced by women. Individuals, women activists, women networks, women with disabilities, women's band, women security personnel, students, men backing women issues, Nepali traditional bands, representatives from national and international organisations, among others walked together in solidarity.

Among the participants, social media campaigners of #RageAgainstRape also had their active presence in the march, who through this event wanted to come out to the ground and highlight their cause in public sphere outside social media. With the increase in rape cases in the past months, the social media campaign has brought together many individuals to raise their voices against injustices faced by the victims, to create awareness through this medium, and to inspire action.

Today's march was a projection of mass enthusiasm and concord that were carried by the participants who came together to observe this year's women's day, which has profound national as well as global significance in advancing gender equity.