Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 5:

Representatives of the civil society and the government today discussed the outcome of the Beijing+10 review meet held in New York from February 28 to March 11.

Participants in the programme organised by Sancharika Samuha (SAS) and IMPACS Nepal said even though notable progress has been made in the ten years after the Beijing Conference, much is to be done to end discrimination against women throughout the world.

The Beijing Platform is a set of goals adopted by a UN conference in Beijing in 1995 to end discrimination against women around the world.

Sharing her experience at the meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Salina Joshi of Forum for Women, Law and Development, said though many discriminatory laws were eliminated worldwide during the last ten years, there are many that need to be addressed. She said though the 11th amendment of the Civil Code has brought some positive changes, there are still 137 discriminatory laws prevalent in Nepal.

Shanta Thapaliya, president of Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre, said violence against women is still rampant throughout the world. She said, “Though the state has been successful to bring awareness in this regard, the implementation is still lacking in Nepal.” She said the New York meet has suggested the governments to adopt integrated approach to end discrimination against woman. “State should come forward with the preventive measures and take initiative to address the forced prostitution and cultural violence such as witchcraft and baadi system.”

Bandana Rana, president of SAS said, six more resolutions were adopted byb the meeting regarding gender mainstreaming, and other aspects of woman development.