KATHMANDU, AUGUST 15
Nepal is set to mark the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which took place in Beijing, China, from September 4-15, 1995.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) remains a landmark achievement in the global women's movement, addressing 12 critical areas of concern, including Women and Poverty, Education and Training of Women, Women and Health, Violence Against Women, Women and Armed Conflict, Women and the Economy, Women in Power and Decision-Making, Institutional Mechanisms for Women's Advancement, Human Rights of Women, Women and the Media, Women and the Environment, and The Girl-Child, according to the statement issued by the Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC).
In addition to these established areas, two emerging issues-Climate Change and Older Women-are being reviewed as part of the ongoing global dialogue on gender equality.
As per the Government of Nepal's commitment to the BPfA, periodic review reports are required to be submitted to the United Nations' 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) every five years. These reports evaluate progress, identify challenges, and highlight gaps in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration.
To align with the global Beijing+30 review process, BBC Nepal-a national network of NGOs led by women-has already conducted provincial-level reviews across all regions of Nepal. The outcomes of these reviews have contributed to the Government of Nepal's report, prepared by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.
As per the statement, the upcoming Beijing+30 parallel sessions and the National Women's Conference will take place on August 16, at the Nepal Administrative Staff College in Jawalakel, Lalitpur. This conference aims to validate the outcomes of the provincial reviews and expert papers, culminating in the issuance of the "Kathmandu Declaration."
The conference will also review programs conducted by the government, NGOs, and the private sector over the past five years to prepare a parallel civil society report. This report will be presented to the United Nations' 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The "Kathmandu Declaration" will be used as an advocacy document across all levels of the Nepalese government. This will help to notify girls' and women's voices at national and international levels for advancing gender equality, and girls' and women's empowerment further, the statement added.
The event will see participation from a diverse group of representatives, including Dalits, Indigenous Peoples, Madhesis, Muslims, Persons with Disabilities, Youth, Older Women, Marginalized Communities, Sexual and Gender Minorities, experts from various fields, academia, professionals from different sectors, women human rights activists, civil society representatives from national and international arenas, and some government officials, it stated.
