KATHMANDU, July 30

Women rights activists on Thrusday organised a rally to put pressure on major political parties to write women-friendly constitution.

The rally that started from Babar Mahal reached New Baneshwor with participants chanting slogans, demanding that women’s rights, bodily integrity of women and citizenship in the name of mother, among others, be ensured in the constitution.

Dr Renu Rajbhandari, chairperson of Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) and National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD), alleged that the lawmakers had failed to take into account the demands of women, so they should keep on exerting pressure on them to draft a constitution that guarantees women’s rights.

Sharmila Karki of the NGO Federation, Kalyani Shah of Women Security Pressure Group, Benu Maya Gurung of Alliance against Trafficking in Woman and Children in Nepal (AATWIN), Bimala Tamang of Mahila Ekata Samaj, Radha Poudel of Action Works and Pratibha Pandey of Jagaruk Nagarik Samuha also aired their views.

All the speakers emphasised on the need to pressure the government until women human rights activists’ recommendations were incorporated in the constitution.

Activists and members of civil society organisations, including WOREC, NAWHRD, Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), AATWIN, Sankalpa, Tewa, Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre (LACC), Hamri Bahini, Community Action Centre (CAC), Mahila Ekata Samaj, Pourakhi, NGO Federation, Shakti Samuha, Women’s Foundation and Women Forum for Women in Nepal (WOFOWON) participated in the rally.

Women rights activists said their campaign launched on Thrusday to press for their demands will continue until their demands are addressed.